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…

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…

On December 21, 2020 Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, signed into law December 27, 2020. This Act continued, and in some ways expanded, the unemployment benefits available to individuals. It removed the mandates for employer provided sick leave and family medical leave, but extended the employer tax credits through March 31, 2021. UNEMPLOYMENT…

Hiring and managing employees means paperwork. Most small business owners are aware they’re supposed to keep employment records for their employees, but many are understandably confused about what they’re required to keep and for how long. Since failing to comply with the various state and federal laws governing employment document retention can be a costly…

Catch Carmichael Clark’s Attorney, Lisa Keeler and Michael Heatherly, from Law Advocates, on Bellingham Tonight to find out what is happening with the law and courts during COVID-19.  They discuss how to legally navigate through this time and the effect the pandemic has had on our legal system. https://www.youtube.com/watch? list=PLI_OFdCv7R112kCSGbZLNp4VsSPnlriry&time _continue=985&v=jXQK0NrbWYo&feature =emb_logo. Make sure to…

COVID-19 Resources for Workers and Businesses UPDATED 4/1/2020 With rapidly changing public health responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, there are also ever-changing responses to address issues impacting businesses and workers.  See below for General Information, Business Operations, Accessing Benefits, New Legislation & Benefits, and Taxes. General Information WA State:  There is a WA state government…

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries recently overhauled the state’s rules governing overtime pay. As a result, the Department of Labor & Industries estimates 259,099 workers in Washington will become eligible for overtime pay once the new rules are fully implemented in 2028. The new changes will affect employees, especially those that are…