Safety and Health  

Electronic injury & illness reporting to start in 2020 in Washington

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has finally issued regulations requiring covered Washington employers to follow federal requirements and file annual injury and illness reports electronically with federal OSHA starting in 2020. As explained on OSHA’s Injury Tracking Application web page, the reporting portal will open again on January 2, 2020, and the…

Leave Laws  

DOL says FMLA covers special ed consultations at child’s school

Recently the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) released an opinion letter saying an employee should be granted intermittent leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to attend school meetings related to her children’s health. The children had medically certified serious health conditions, and the employee was allowed intermittent…

Leave LawsWage and Hour  

Q&A: Denying perfect attendance bonus to FMLA users can spell trouble

Question: We have a “no-fault” attendance policy, which means that if an employee doesn’t show up for a scheduled shift, they get a point. We’re careful, however, not to penalize, discipline, or terminate anyone for using protected leave (such as paid sick leave or FMLA). Instead, we incentivize employees. If an employee reaches the…

Safety and HealthTermination & Resignation  

Oregon employers may be liable if they retaliate without knowing it

If an employer disciplines or terminates an employee on the advice of a supervisor, without knowing the supervisor is actually retaliating against the employee, the employer can still be liable, ruled the Oregon Supreme Court. Sometimes, the people with authority to make employment decisions don’t really make decisions alone, but instead rely…

Safety and Health  

New app calculates heat index and illness risks for outdoor workers

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have created a “Heat Safety Tool” app for Android and iPhone to help workers and supervisors calculate the heat index for their worksites and determine risk levels for outdoor workers. The app also includes…

Disability  

New resources available for workplace disability accommodation

The US Department of Labor’s Job Accommodation Network (JAN) has released a comprehensive Workplace Accommodation Toolkit which provides employers with resources and tools needed to create a more disability-inclusive and compliant workplace. The toolkit contains practical solutions for workplace accommodations, coaching on the interactive process, and training on the basic obligations of…

Vigilant NewsWorkers’ Comp  

We’re Hiring: Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager

We are seeking an experienced, full-time Workers’ Compensation Claims Manager. This position is responsible for proactive counseling and advice related to management of claims for employers who are enrolled in our Washington Workers’ Compensation/Retro program. This position acts as an employer advocate with a goal of getting injured workers back to work. At…

WebinarLeave LawsWage and Hour  

Webinar: Oregon Legislative Update 9/12/19 - Register now!

  WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW Thursday, September 12, 2019 10-11 a.m. Pacific / 1-2 p.m. Eastern   Oregon employers are facing a wave of new state employment laws after the 2019 Legislative Session. Many are still trying to figure out how to sort through all the new rules, and asking questions such as: What changes do we…

Montana employers can’t require employees to have microchips

Effective October 1, 2019, Montana employers can’t require employees to get microchip implants as a condition of employment. The Montana legislature passed and Governor Steve Bullock signed SB 286, which prohibits employers from making microchip implants a condition of employment, although employers may request and employees may volunteer for microchip implants.…

Wage and Hour  

EEO-1 portal now open for filing data on pay and hours

Employers with 100 or more employees can now file “Component 2” of the EEO-1 Report, which covers pay and hours worked during 2017 and 2018. The deadline for filing the report is September 30, 2019.   The requirement to file Component 2 data applies to companies with at least 100 employees on an employer-chosen…