News

March 31, 2020

The events and legislation surrounding COVID-19 and the trickle-down effects are occurring at a pace, unlike anything we have seen in modern times. Congress has been working at breakneck speed to draft legislation aimed at blunting the effects on employees and employers alike. On April 1, 2020, HR 6201, also known as the Families First […]

March 26, 2020

As many of you are already aware, on Monday, March 23rd Governor Inslee issued a “Stay Home Stay Healthy Order”, ordering all non-essential Washington businesses to close for two weeks. Businesses are encouraged to do so immediately but must be done no later than 48 hours from the address. While we are still awaiting definitions from […]

March 26, 2020

Businesses searching for relief from the financial impact of the Coronavirus should consult the following resources: The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans to qualifying small businesses.  Congress has approved up to $7 billion in low-interest loans to small businesses impacted by COVID-19.  More information about loans available through SBA can be […]

March 26, 2020

The onslaught of individuals receiving testing and the quick spread of COVID-19, as well as constant media coverage of the virus, has made the pandemic a constant source of conversation both in our personal lives and at work. This naturally leads to conversations in both settings related to medical conditions – our own, those of […]

March 26, 2020

The current global pandemic has all of us working in unchartered territory and working on creative solutions that allow us to continue to serve our customers and provide for our employees. As we work on solutions, it’s helpful to be aware of some common wage and hour issues: Scheduling options: Work flexible schedules and hours […]

March 26, 2020

There are many employer-provided as well as state and federal benefits and protections provided to employees which may be used by affected workers. Benefits include: Sick Leave/Vacation/PTO: Employees may have accumulated sick leave, vacation or PTO that may be used to cover time away from work. Washington law allows for use of these benefits to […]

March 26, 2020

Washington’s Emergency Rules In response to the overwhelming need for unemployment benefits as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Washington has enacted emergency rules to allow for faster access to benefits for affected workers. The emergency rules provide benefits for workers who otherwise would not have qualified. Examples include employees who are mildly ill […]

March 12, 2020

The novel Coronavirus now called COVID-19, unheard of more than 10 weeks ago has now been declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) to be a pandemic. On February 29, 2020, the Washington state governor declared a state of emergency in response to the continued diagnosis of COVID-19 cases in the state and has restricted […]

February 19, 2020

Being an employer can be difficult in today’s environment. Employers often struggle to stay compliant and adaptive in today’s increasingly regulated business environment. Below are just a few legal updates that are important for 2020. New Standards for Overtime The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is the federal law that governs whether employees are exempt […]

February 17, 2020

Hopefully, all employers are aware that as of January 1, 2020, federal changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act increased the salary threshold to $684 per week to classify employees as exempt from overtime and minimum wage requirements. Likewise, the state of Washington has adopted changes to its Minimum Wage Act which will go into […]