Starting January 1, 2024, Washington State is set to introduce a series of wage adjustments that will impact businesses of all sizes. In 2020, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries updated the rules for exempt workers by creating an eight-year implementation schedule that incrementally raises the multiplier until it reaches 2.5 times in 2028. Though the pace of the increase is based on the size of the employer, small enterprises to large corporations alike will feel the effects of these changes.
On August 2, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued the Stericycle, Inc. decision, creating a new standard for scrutinizing employer “work rules”. Work rules can consist of company handbooks, policies, and procedures. This decision specifically addresses employer work rules that could reasonably be construed as restricting employees’ rights to engage in activities protected under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), like unionization or openly discussing wages or benefits. Employers should carefully review their handbooks, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with this decision and prepare for potential challenges.
Over the last two decades, obesity levels in the United States have been on the rise along with a growing concern of discrimination based on weight in the workplace. As a result, states and local governments are starting to take action. In Washington, it is therefore illegal for employers to refuse to hire qualified potential employees because the employer perceives them to be obese.
On Thursday, November 4, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released its Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) that outlines a vaccine and testing mandate for private employers that have 100 or more employees. While the ETS technically went into effect on Friday, November 5, employers have until December 6 to comply with most requirements and January... View Article
On December 17, 2021, in a highly publicized announcement, Governor Inslee announced the implementation of the Washington CARES Act would be delayed for the legislature to fix the statute. The Governor stated that the state would not collect funds until the legislature resolved open issues. Lawmakers stated, “While we cannot direct employers not to collect,... View Article
On July 1, 2020, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”) updated the criteria for an exempt employee. These workers may include executive, administrative, and professional employees, as well as outside salespeople and computer professionals. Washington’s overtime exemption rules generally require these “white-collar” employees to meet a three-part test to be exempt: the... View Article
This week’s blog from Lauren Burgon Washington voters approved Initiative 502 on November 6th leaving many Washington employers wondering how and if they should be amending their policies regarding drug use. While the passage of Initiative 502 decriminalizes, regulates, and taxes the recreational use and sale of marijuana in the state of Washington, marijuana use... View Article
Michelle Bomberger’s article “What’s the Password?” was published in Seattle Business Magazine. It addressed key considerations for employers accessing employees’ social media accounts. The full article is below: Scoping out an employee’s or a potential employee’s social media life online has become common practice for employers who believe sound reasons exist for requesting this type... View Article
As we review the provisions of the new Seattle Paid Sick Leave Ordinance, we thought we’d provide some examples to show some of the issues and complexities of the ordinance. Anchorage Accounting is an accounting firm with its principal office in Anchorage Alaska. It has 6 full time employees in Alaska, 2 full time employees... View Article
