The states of Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington have all indicated that they don’t currently plan to proceed with their own general workplace vaccine mandates in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision to maintain the temporary stay on the federal OSHA COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for employers with…
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On December 23, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee clarified that employer deductions from employees’ wages under Washington’s Long Term Care Act are required by law to begin January 1, 2022, except for workers who purchased their own insurance and successfully applied for an exemption. Just a few days earlier, he had announced that he…
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has again extended its temporary relaxation of the standards for physically inspecting a new worker’s employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9. This is the twelfth extension of the relaxed standard, which will now expire on April 30, 2022. As we originally reported, DHS relaxed the requirement for employers operating…
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The Department of Homeland Security has again extended its temporary relaxation of the standards for physically inspecting a new worker’s employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9. This is the eleventh extension of the relaxed standard, which will now expire on December 31, 2021. As we originally reported, Homeland Security…
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Governor Jay Inslee announced yesterday that all individuals, whether vaccinated or not, must wear masks when in an indoor public space beginning August 23, 2021, with limited exceptions. The Washington Department of Health responded by posting Order 20-03.4 (Face Coverings – Statewide). Significant work-related exceptions to this general requirement to wear…
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On July 29, 2021, the IRS updated its FAQs that address tax credits available to eligible employers who voluntarily provide paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) between April 1, and September 30, 2021, pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). As we previously reported, ARPA…
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Governor Jay Inslee lifted many of the restrictions that applied to individuals and businesses in Washington during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, effective June 30, 2021. The remaining restrictions are posted on the governor’s webpage for COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers. With the exception of the changes discussed below, employers must…
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The IRS recently updated their FAQs to address tax credits available to eligible employers who voluntarily provide leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) between April 1, and September 30, 2021, pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). As we previously reported, ARPA extended the optional FFCRA tax…
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The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on May 26, 2021, that the Department of Homeland Security is again extending its temporary relaxation of the standards for physically inspecting a new worker’s employment eligibility documents when completing the Form I-9, and is adding flexibility for individual remote hires. This is the tenth extension of the relaxed standard,…
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On May 21, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee and the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced new workplace mask options in line with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)’s May 13, 2021, guidance, which said people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (coronavirus) generally don’t need to wear masks or physically…
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