A significant amendment to Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act requiring most employers to include pay ranges, benefits, and other forms of compensation in job listings came into effect on January 1, 2023.[1] As we discussed here several months ago, these requirements represent a major change from the previous version of the law, which only…

Pay Ranges and Benefits Information to be Required in Job Postings Starting January 1, 2023 A significant change coming to Washington pay transparency law next year has slipped under the radar for many employers. Starting January 1, 2023, employers with 15 or more employees will be required to post a wage scale or salary range…

Determining which employees are covered by Washington’s Minimum Wage Act (“MWA”), RCW 49.46, is an essential consideration for employers of any size. The MWA requires that most Washington-based employees receive a minimum hourly wage, overtime pay, and paid sick leave unless they are exempt from those rules based on the nature of their job and…

In Washington, construction contractors must be registered with the state’s Department of Labor and Industries. As part of the registration requirements, contractors must have a general liability insurance policy in the amount of $200,000 in public liability and $50,000 in property damage, and a $250,000 combined single limit. Contractors must also obtain a bond that…

Settlement agreements are contracts. They are favored in the law and are governed by general principles of contract law. A contract requires offer, acceptance, and consideration. Acceptance is an expression by word, sign, or writing of the intent to be bound by the terms of the offer. Once an offer is accepted there is a…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s full approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine in August, coupled with the ongoing spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus, has prompted a growing number of companies – including giants such as Google, United Airlines, McDonald’s, and Goldman Sachs – to mandate that some or all…

The Washington Department of Health has announced that all Washingtonians 16 and older will be eligible to receive Covid-19 vaccinations starting April 15, 2021. As remote workers transition back to the office in larger numbers, many employers want to know if they can legally require employees to be vaccinated for Covid-19 before they return. The…

One of the first steps in opening a new professional practice is to form a business entity. That process looks a little different for licensed professionals than it does for other types of business. It’s important for licensed professionals to be aware of those differences when they go to start their practice. Washington’s Professional Service…

The current Covid-19 pandemic is causing a great deal of uncertainty. Fact and circumstances seem to be changing on an almost daily (if not hourly) basis. Not only is that affecting our health, wellbeing, and daily lives, but it is also affecting commerce. Businesses are continuously monitoring the situation and adapting in order to stay…

Bellingham and Whatcom County are full of nonprofit service opportunities, including one our firm regularly supports and on whose Board I currently serve:  civil legal aid through LAW Advocates. I am frequently asked about nonprofit corporate board service and see issues arise when individuals don’t know what legal duties and responsibilities they have on a…