Tag Archive: employment

Understanding the New Joint Employer Standard

LEGAL UPDATE: Understanding the New Joint Employer Standard

by | March 27, 2024

NOTE: This rule is currently in litigation and has not taken effect. We will continue to monitor and update this post. Employers should be aware of the continuing trends toward employee rights and be prepared for this kind of rule from states and the federal government.  The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has rolled out... View Article

LEGAL UPDATE: Washington State to Raise Minimum Wage and Exempt Salary Threshold in 2024

by | November 14, 2023

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.

New ruling impacts workplace policy

LEGAL UPDATE: New Ruling Impacts Workplace Policies for All Employers

by | October 15, 2023

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.

OSHA Vaccination

OSHA Emergency Temporary Standard on COVID-19 Vaccination & Testing

by | January 21, 2022

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

Cares Act

Washington CARES Act Delay

by | January 5, 2022

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

pitfalls to avoid in difficult employee conversations

Pitfalls to Avoid in Difficult Employee Conversations

by | March 30, 2021

No matter the industry or company size, all business leaders and managers will have to have difficult employee conversations at one point or another. Whether it be for performance issues, misconduct, policy violations, or layoffs, difficult conversations come with the territory of running and managing a business. Having the right tools and knowledge is critical... View Article

Staff Training

Employee Training Programs Tailored For Your Business

by | June 27, 2019

Does your staff get excited about employee training? Typically, it’s not something they’re looking forward to attending. And it’s true — out-of-the-box style employee trainings aren’t just boring, they’re ineffective. Equinox has a different approach when it comes to educating teams about important topics. As we develop each unique presentation, we tailor the information for... View Article

Woman Working in Cafe

Salary History Bans and the Washington State EPOA

by | June 3, 2019

Effective on July 28, 2019, employers in Washington State are prohibited from collecting or seeking the wage or salary history of an applicant for employment. Salary History Bans Salary history bans are becoming increasingly common and are now in place in some form across 17 states, including Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as 14... View Article

Foreign Workers

The Complexity of Hiring Foreign Workers

by | September 2, 2015

Last week the Seattle Times reported that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a civil fraud suit against local developer Lobsang Dargey, alleging that he stole nearly $18 million for his own use from immigrant investors under the EB-5 program. The program allows wealthy foreigners to invest money ($500,000 at a minimum) in a... View Article