Chris Edison, Author at Vigilant

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Mar 24 2026
Harassment & Discrimination

Q&A: AI tools may threaten your attorney-client privilege

  Question: We recently received a discrimination complaint from a former employee who was terminated for sexual harassment. To save time and legal costs, we decided to plug the facts into ChatGPT to review our legal exposure and determine how to respond. Does this pose any issues in the event of a lawsuit? Answer: Likely,…

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Feb 20 2026
DisabilityHiringQ&A

Q&A: Job descriptions, essential functions, and the ADA

  Question: We have a shop technician who sometimes works on welding projects when we have low staffing. Welding is not included in their written job description even though they do it on a routine basis. Do we have to update their job description to reflect the welding duties? Answer: You should. In a recent…

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Dec 01 2025
Drug and AlcoholHarassment & DiscriminationWage and Hour

Holiday parties: Follow these tips to minimize liability

The holiday season is rapidly approaching, and a company holiday party is a great way to reward employees for their hard work. As we enter a festive season, here are some recommendations and tips to safely enjoy a celebration with coworkers and reduce liability for your organization. No harassment: Remind your workers that the anti-harassment…

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Oct 17 2025
Leave LawsWage and Hour

Q&A: Know how to properly calculate 12 workweeks of FMLA leave

Question: We generally give everyone 480 hours in their federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave bank. We have a production employee whose schedule requires them to work 86 hours every two weeks, including mandatory overtime. They have requested leave under the FMLA and believe they’re entitled to more than 480 hours of leave….

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Sep 19 2025
Wage and HourWashington

Any applicant in Washington can sue for noncompliant job posting

                The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled that job applicants aren’t required to prove that they had a genuine interest in a job in order to collect damages for noncompliant job postings under Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”). Two applicants brought a class action lawsuit alleging…

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Jul 25 2025
Safety and Health

OSHA renews focus on preventing amputations in manufacturing

                The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued an update to the National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries, effective June 27, 2025. OSHA Directive CPL 03-00-027 renews the program and makes several significant changes. The directive is set to remain in effect for five…

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Jul 11 2025
Immigration

DOL suspends 2024 Farmworker Protection Rule

                On June 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division announced in a Field Assistance Bulletin that it is immediately suspending its April 2024 Farmworker Protection Rule (FPR), Improving Protection for Workers in Temporary Agricultural Employment in the United States, which went into…

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May 20 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationSafety and HealthWage and Hour

Washington Governor signs 2025 legislation

                The 2025 legislative session ended on April 27, 2025, with Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signing multiple employment-related bills into law. We separately reported on three of those bills in our last newsletter (expansion of the Fair Chance Act, paid leave for immigration proceedings, and prohibition of driver’s…

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May 05 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationHiringWashington

New Washington law prohibits driver’s licenses requirements

                Governor Ferguson has signed SSB 5501, a new law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on whether an applicant or employee has a driver’s license. Beginning on July 27, 2025, employers are prohibited from requiring a driver’s license as a condition of employment or including a statement…

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Jan 10 2025
Leave LawsTermination & Resignation

Be careful how you analyze FMLA leave to care for others

                A finance manager who was denied the ability to take federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave to care for her seriously ill adult sister was given a second chance to show that her employer violated the law, following a U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals…

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Dec 09 2024
Drug and AlcoholHarassment & DiscriminationSafety and Health

Holiday parties: HR tips to minimize company liability

                The holiday season has returned, and many companies are planning holiday parties for their employees. While a holiday party can be a great way to reward employees, here are some tips and recommendations to enjoy the celebrations while reducing the liability for your organization. Stay healthy: Tell…

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Nov 13 2024
Wage and HourWashington

Washington L&I policy addresses work hours for minors

                The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) recently released a new Administrative Policy (ES.C.4.1) that provides guidance on scheduling and hours of work requirements for minors working in both agricultural and non-agricultural industries. The policy outlines the requirements as specified in Washington statutes (RCW 49.12, RCW…

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