Employment Law in Motion
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Washington Update: Employee Use of EAP is Confidential!
In a surprise to presumably no one, Washington now explicitly protects the confidentiality of an employee’s use of an Employer Assistance Program (“EAP”).
Effective June 9, 2022, a new section will be added to Washington statute RCW 49.44 making it...
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OT for Ag(ricultural) Workers – Oregon, Washington, and California
Mar 17, 2022
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Agricultural ("ag") workers on the West Coast must now be paid overtime.
Oregon
The Oregon legislature passed what some called the “most divisive” bill of the short 2022 legislative session, requiring agricultural farmworkers to be paid overtime....
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Washington Alert! Unmasking Some New COVID-19 Job Protections for Washington Workers
Mar 15, 2022
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With all the focus on the imminent changes to mask mandates and renewed return to work planning efforts underway, one important new obligation in Washington State may have slipped past many employers’ radars. While announcing the anticipated changes...
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The Washington Cares Act – Premiums Postponed, Extra Exemptions, and Anticipated Amendments
Premiums Postponed
2022 opened up with Washington employers not knowing whether to begin deducting employee premiums for the new Washington Cares Act or risk having to absorb the premium costs themselves.
Originally, employee premium deductions for t...
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Washington’s New Statutory Wage Lien: The Next Pressure Tactic Against WA Employers
As we look ahead to 2022, it’s time to remind Washington employers that the Washington Wage Recovery Act (the “Act”) becomes effective January 1, 2022. Under the Act, employees can attach a lien (i.e., a legal hold) on certain property for allegedly...
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2022 Washington Compensation Requirements, Changes in the PFML Premiums and Benefits, and the New WA Cares Act Premiums
2022 Washington Compensation Requirements for Minimum Wage, Exemptions, and Noncompetition Agreements
Each year, the Washington State minimum wage, white-collar exemption minimum salary level, and minimum earnings thresholds to enforce noncompetitio...
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