The cannabis industry is growing at a rapid pace given the proliferation of states legalizing medical and recreational use. Indeed, most states already have a comprehensive medical cannabis program, and many are rolling out...more
4/14/2023
/ Anti-Discrimination Policies ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Dispensaries ,
Drug Testing ,
Employment Policies ,
Labor Regulations ,
Local Ordinance ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
State Labor Laws ,
Trade Secrets ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Hospitality industry employers know that scheduling the right number of workers on any given day – or shift – is a challenge. In addition to unpredictable customer patterns, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, labor shortages, and...more
Gig economy businesses may soon need to ensure all app-based delivery drivers working in Seattle earn the city’s minimum wage, which is currently $17.27 an hour. Under the proposed ordinance the Seattle City Council...more
Washington employers will soon need to include salary and benefits in all job postings thanks to an amended law that was recently signed into effect by Governor Inslee. Starting January 1, 2023, businesses with 15 or more...more
Washington employers are already prohibited from using employment agreements that restrict workers from disclosing claims of workplace sexual assault and sexual harassment – but will soon be unable to use nondisclosure...more
Answering the question Fisher Phillips recently posed to Washington employers – to deduct or not to deduct – Governor Inslee signed into law on January 26 the bills swiftly pushed through the legislature that delay collection...more
Adding to the sea of troubles that employers faced in the year just gone by, the status of Washington State’s new long-term care payroll tax is now up in the air. Employers in the Evergreen State are now faced with a dilemma...more
Hospitality employers face some of the strictest workplace safety requirements intended to address the COVID-19 pandemic under state, county, and or even city requirements. These include mandates for employee pre-shift...more
7/31/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Employee Privacy Rights ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Health and Safety ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Sick Employees ,
Virus Testing ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
With Governor Inslee’s announcement Sunday evening that he would be issuing an Emergency Proclamation ordering the closure of restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities, all Washington businesses have...more
3/18/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Entertainment Industry ,
Governor Inslee ,
Health and Safety ,
Hospitality Industry ,
Infectious Diseases ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Public Health ,
Retailers ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Wage and Hour ,
Workplace Safety
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries just decided to substantially raise the state’s salary threshold to meet the salary basis test for “white collar” overtime exemptions. As set out more specifically below,...more
12/16/2019
/ Department of Labor & Industry ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Minimum Salary ,
Misclassification ,
New Legislation ,
Over-Time ,
Salaried Employees ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
By a unanimous 9-0 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday declined to extend California’s wage-and-hour laws to employees working on offshore drilling platforms subject to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (Parker...more
6/11/2019
/ Appeals ,
Choice-of-Law ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Federal Enclave Rules ,
Federal Labor Laws ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
Offshore Drilling ,
On-Call Employees ,
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ,
Parker Drilling Management Services Ltd v Newton ,
Preemption ,
Putative Class Actions ,
Reversal ,
SCOTUS ,
State Labor Laws ,
Unpaid Wages ,
Wage and Hour
Washington employers, get ready. Starting January 1, 2019, the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD) will begin collecting premium payments from employers so the historic Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program...more
12/14/2018
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Medical Leave ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
Washington employers are already under the gun to develop policies and practices to meet the requirements of the state’s new paid sick law that takes effect on January 1, 2018. Those with multiple Washington locations have...more
12/20/2017
/ Collective Bargaining ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Local Ordinance ,
Municipalities ,
New Amendments ,
Paid Leave ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
The past year has brought multiple new workplace laws that will require employers in Washington to change several key policies and procedures. Below is an update that provides a general overview to help you prepare for these...more
9/21/2017
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Medical Leave ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Sick Leave Act ,
Pregnancy ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Undue Hardship ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
A recent federal court decision may bring about a new wave of overtime claims by offshore workers, particularly those working within the territorial waters of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas (Halle v. Galliano Marine...more
5/5/2017
/ Appeals ,
Collective Actions ,
Dismissals ,
Exemptions ,
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) ,
Jones Act ,
Offshore Drilling ,
Reversal ,
Seamen ,
Unpaid Overtime ,
Vessels ,
Wage and Hour
In keeping with its goal of pioneering workers’ rights, Seattle’s City Council passed its controversial Secure Scheduling Ordinance on September 19, 2016, which will require certain retail and food establishments to provide...more
9/22/2016
/ Business Justification ,
Covered Employees ,
Covered Employer ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Fines ,
Interactive Process ,
Local Ordinance ,
Retaliation ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules
In keeping with its goal of pioneering workers’ rights, Seattle’s City Council is expected to pass its Secure Scheduling Ordinance this fall, requiring certain retail and food establishments to provide both a “livable wage”...more
Effective January 1, 2017, Spokane will join Seattle, Sea-Tac, and Tacoma as cities in Washington requiring employers to provide mandatory employee paid sick and safe leave. On Monday, January 11, 2016, Spokane’s City Council...more
Amidst the uber-media commotion over the Seattle City Council’s December 14 adoption of a law allowing independent contractor rideshare drivers to unionize, many missed that Seattle also passed a significant bill amending...more
With some limited exceptions, Washington State wage and hour rules require that workers receive a paid 10 minute rest break for every four hours worked. The Washington Supreme Court has now expanded employer obligations in...more