Governor Jay Inslee recently signed the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA or the Act), a sweeping worker protection bill recently passed by the state legislature. The Act amends the state’s worker’s compensation and...more
6/7/2021
/ Governor Inslee ,
Health and Safety ,
Infectious Diseases ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures ,
Workers Compensation Act
In response to last year’s groundbreaking decision by the Washington State Supreme Court in Martinez-Cuevas v. DeRuyter Bros. Dairy, Inc., the state legislature recently passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5172 (SB5172),...more
5/19/2021
/ Agribusiness ,
Agricultural Sector ,
Agricultural Workers ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Labor Regulations ,
Minimum Wage ,
Non-Exempt Employees ,
Over-Time ,
Retroactive Application ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
State Legislatures ,
WA Supreme Court ,
Wage and Hour
Since July 2018, Washington businesses have been operating under Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). The EPOA, which significantly expanded the state’s 1943 Equal Pay Act, is one of the most stringent equal...more
As Washington businesses continue to operate under Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order in the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, workers’ compensation may not be of primary concern. However, as we all...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
“Epidemic” Versus “Pandemic”: A Distinction With A Difference -
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. Previously, the...more
Employers are rightfully concerned about what, if anything, they should be doing to respond to the continued spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), with confirmed cases in dozens of countries, including the United States. As...more
3/2/2020
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Best Practices ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Handbooks ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Nationals ,
Infectious Diseases ,
OSHA ,
Policies and Procedures ,
Traveling Employee ,
Workplace Safety
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