The Washington state legislature and certain localities recently passed several bills affecting employers, some of which have already been signed into law. These measures address non-compete agreements, mandatory...more
I. Introduction -
The pay gap – or paying women and other historically marginalized groups less for the same or substantially similar work – has long been in the media spotlight. But as employees, boards, consumers, and...more
In an effort to close what is viewed as a persistent pay gap, Washington has amended its Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) for the second time to require employers to include wage and benefit information in their job...more
5/2/2022
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Discrimination ,
Equal Pay ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Reform ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Pay Gap ,
Pay Transparency ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Washington
On May 9, 2019, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1696, the state’s most recent pay equity legislation, which the bill claims is an “additional step towards gender equality.” ...more
5/17/2019
/ Amended Legislation ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Gender Discrimination ,
Gender Equity ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
Salary/Wage History ,
Sex Discrimination ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
On July 27, 2018, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed into law the Domestic Worker Ordinance (“the DWO”). Effective July 1, 2019, the ordinance is expected to impact approximately 33,000 domestic workers in Seattle. ...more
8/28/2018
/ Domestic Workers ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Healthcare ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Home Healthcare Workers ,
Local Ordinance ,
Minimum Wage ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
State and Local Government ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
Washington State has joined the ranks of jurisdictions that have adopted expanded equal pay legislation. The Equal Pay Opportunity Act (EPOA) was signed into law on March 21, 2018, and will take effect on June 7, 2018....more
4/17/2018
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Gender Equity ,
Gender-Based Pay Discrimination ,
New Legislation ,
Pay Discrimination ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Pay Gap ,
Sex Discrimination ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
This article summarizes certain aspects of the current Washington State law of meal and rest breaks, taking into account the latest appellate ruling on the topic, Brady v. AutoZone Stores, Inc., 188 Wn.2d 576, 397 P.3d 120...more
November 2016 was a dynamic month for laws relating to Washington State workers. At the state level, Washington voters approved Initiative Measure No. 1433 (“the Law”), which provides incremental increases of the state...more
Seattle, Washington has amended the quartet of laws addressing labor standards (Seattle Sick Time and Safe Time Ordinance, Seattle Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance, and Seattle Wage Theft...more
The expansive interpretation of meal and rest break regulations continues in Washington State, as the state's highest court ruled in Demetrio v. Sakuma Brothers Farms, Inc., Case No. 90932-6 (Wash. Sup. Ct. July 16, 2015),...more
Effective April 1, 2015, a new Wage Theft Ordinance imposes specific wage and tip notice requirements on employers in the City of Seattle. The Seattle Office for Civil Rights (SOCR) is granted power to investigate complaints,...more
Seattle, Washington has enacted groundbreaking legislation that, over several years, will phase in a $15.00 per hour minimum wage, the nation’s highest for private employers who do not contract with governmental entities....more
In this Issue:
- Introduction
- History of the Companionship exemption
- The New Regulations
- Impact of the New Regulations
- Challenges and Best practices for Home Care employers...more
In This Report:
- I. Spotlight On Wage-And-Hour Risks For The Home Healthcare Industry
- II. Potential Loss Of The Companionship Services Exemption
- III. Other Common Types Of Claims
- A. Misclassification...more
Washington's highest court has ruled that missed paid rest breaks count as "hours worked" that trigger overtime obligations for employers. According to the court, employers must add missed rest break time to their employees'...more
11/16/2012