One year after New York City did the same, Seattle enacted an ordinance in 2019 that guarantees a minimum wage for local rideshare drivers. Following an independent city-commissioned study that determined the exact amount...more
The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry. Washington state’s 60-day legislative session ended on Thursday, March 12, 2020, after the rapid spread of COVID-19 around the state drastically changed the outcome of this...more
The Washington State Legislature has passed an amendment to the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) to prohibit discrimination based on hair textures and hairstyles historically linked to race. Washington’s House...more
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) recently announced significant revisions to Washington’s overtime rules for the first time in 40 years. The new rules will go into effect beginning on July 1, 2020,...more
12/31/2019
/ Department of Labor & Industry ,
Department of Labor (DOL) ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Job Duties ,
New Legislation ,
Over-Time ,
Salaried Employees ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Beginning January 1, 2020, Washington employers in industries including hospitality, retail, security, and contracted property services will need to comply with a new law amending the Washington Law Against Discrimination...more
12/24/2019
/ Covered Employer ,
Department of Labor & Industry ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Governor Inslee ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Independent Contractors ,
New Legislation ,
Property Service Workers ,
Sexual Harassment ,
State Labor Laws ,
Worker Protection Standard
Beginning in January 2020, Washington employees can start using new benefits under the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFML). Employees and employers have paid the required premiums on the new paid leave benefits for all...more
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law legislation in April 2019 that requires school districts to allow parents and guardians to administer to their child marijuana-infused medications on school grounds, in school...more
8/26/2019
/ Controlled Substances ,
Drug-Free Workplace Act ,
Federal Funding ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
Governor Inslee ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Popular ,
Public Schools ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
School Districts ,
School Policies ,
State Labor Laws ,
Students
The Washington State Supreme Court recently held obesity qualifies as an impairment under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). The decision runs counter to other court decisions across the country finding obesity...more
8/8/2019
/ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Conditional Job Offers ,
Disability Discrimination ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Applicants ,
Obesity ,
Protected Class ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
State Labor Laws ,
WA Supreme Court
Recently enacted amendments to Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) will take effect on July 28, 2019. The Washington legislature passed the EPOA in March 2018, expanding Washington’s gender pay equity law for...more
7/24/2019
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Governor Inslee ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Applicants ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
Salary/Wage History ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour