Most employers are aware of their duty to prevent discrimination and harassment in the workplace, to investigate any complaints about such conduct, and, if violations are found, to take effective corrective action. But what if the alleged harasser contends their discriminatory conduct was a form of protected concerted activity under federal labor […]
read moreOver the last several months, the phrases “#MeToo” and “#Time’sUp” have become synonymous with a call to action to stand up to sexual harassment in the workplace. Although the #MeToo movement does not appear to be slowing […]
read moreThe much-promised “Trump overhaul” of the Obama National Labor Relations Board (“Board”) suddenly shifted into high gear, as the newly minted Republican-led Board recently overturned a number of key Obama Board rulings. A major impetus for the flurry of pro-management decisions was the December 16, 2017 […]
read moreFor many employers, the company holiday party is as ubiquitous as the holidays themselves.
Many organizations are privy to holiday party legends – some good, some bad. As the holiday
season unfolds, companies throughout the Puget Sound region […]
On September 29, 2017, the Office of Labor Standards (“OLS”) for the City of Seattle published the final proposed revisions to the administrative rules for its Minimum Wage Ordinance, which, if approved, will take effect on January 1, 2018. These are rule revisions to Ordinance […]
read moreEmployers that have employees located in Washington should be aware of the new mandatory safe
and sick leave law, which takes effect on January 1, 2018. Several Washington cities – Seattle,
SeaTac, Tacoma and Spokane – already have mandatory […]
On July 5, 2017, Washington became the fifth state in the nation to approve a paid Family and Medical
Leave law. The new law, which takes effect on January 1, 2020, is one of the most generous in the
country and will apply to any person or business that employs at […]
Washington law is clear that employees working more than five hours must be allowed a 30-minute meal period, unless the employee chooses to waive the meal period. However, an employer’s responsibility for ensuring that employees actually take meal breaks has been less clear. Recently, the Washington Supreme Court […]
read moreThe new administration made it clear that it is making immigration a priority and employers should expect stepped up enforcement of workplace immigration laws. Based on the administration’s indications, ICE audits will increase, new investigation officers will be hired, and enforcement in this area will get a lot of […]
read moreEqual pay has been in the news of late, with marches and other efforts by advocates to raise public awareness of pay inequity between men and women in the workplace. These efforts have focused on strengthening the 1963 Equal Pay Act, which requires employers to pay men and women the same for equal work. Recent developments […]
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