Jodi Slavik, Author at Vigilant

Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Showing posts for: Jodi Slavik

Sep 21 2023
Drug and AlcoholLabor Relations

Q&A: Notify union of pending changes to drug testing policy

Question: We’re changing our drug testing policy to remove marijuana from the applicant drug panel. We might do some other language clean-up while we’re doing so. Because the substantive change involves applicants, we don’t have to notify the union, right? Answer: Wrong…only because you said you’re doing other “clean-up.” What you consider to be minor…

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Aug 10 2023
Safety and Health

New OSHA rule requires more injury data from high-risk industries

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently announced a final rule that will require establishments with 100 or more employees in certain high-risk industries to electronically submit individual workers’ injury and illness data from their OSHA Form 300 (Log of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses), and OSHA Form 301 (Injury and Illness Incident Report) to…

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Jul 06 2023
Safety and Health

Address standing forklift under-ride hazards at your worksite

Stand-up forklifts have a unique and significant safety risk called under-riding. This occurs when the forklift operator, with forks trailing, backs into a storage rack with a crossbar slightly taller than the truck cab. If there is nothing to stop the forklift, the operator can be hit or crushed. This is what happened twice within…

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Aug 18 2022
Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: COVID-19 workplace rules extended

On August 4, 2022, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) filed an emergency workplace safety rule to extend and slightly modify COVID-19 (coronavirus) reporting, notification, and personal protective equipment requirements. The new rule took effect immediately and expires on December 2, 2022. (We reported on the prior rule here, which expired on August 4, 2022)….

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Apr 07 2022
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: Stay alert for laws that protect employee wages

There are two laws—one passed this year and one last—that protect employees in Washington from not getting paid or for fees related to bounced checks. The first, RCW Chapter 60.90, became effective January 1, 2022. It allows most employees to place a lien on their employer’s property to secure unpaid wages, as well as interest,…

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Feb 03 2022
DisabilityWashington

WASHINGTON: Long-term care premium tax delayed to July 2023

On January 27, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee signed Substitute House Bill 1732, delaying the implementation of Washington state’s long-term care premium tax from January 1, 2022, until July 1, 2023. As we previously reported, mounting opposition to the program caused Governor Inslee to announce a delay in late December 2021. However, in a subsequent press…

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Jan 20 2022
Wage and Hour

Q&A: Assess pay for time spent logging into online time clocks

Question: I have a remote employee asking if he’s going to be paid for the time it takes to log into our timekeeping software. This seems ridiculous. It only takes him a few minutes—if that—each day. Do we have to pay for this time? Answer: If his work depends on his computer use and he’s…

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Nov 18 2021
COVID-19DisabilitySafety and Health

Q&A: Consider options while awaiting ruling on OSHA COVID-19 ETS

Question: I read your Alert, announcing a hold on federal OSHA’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency temporary standard (ETS) for employers with 100 or more employees until a federal court hearing occurs. Does that mean we can stop preparing for the rule (which requires vaccination or weekly tests), or is there something we should still be doing?…

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Oct 28 2021
Vigilant NewsWebinar

12/2 WEBINAR RECORDING: Where are my employees?! How to fix five modern attendance dilemmas.

Even before COVID-19 completely changed traditional work practices, reliable employee attendance was a challenge. Jobs—whether remote or not—require time spent on task. However, Millennial and Gen Z employees want to work when they want and where they want. And new state and federal laws give employees more time off of work for medical, military, civic,…

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Aug 27 2021
Featured Worker’s CompLeave LawsTermination & Resignation

Legal Corner: Avoid These Three Workers’ Comp Mistakes

I advise Washington employers A LOT about discipline and terminations. One of my recent calls went like this: “Hi, we have a two-year employee who has horrible attendance and a bad attitude. No one likes working with her. She always complains about anxiety, and last week she was a no-call, no-show. When we got a…

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Jun 03 2021
COVID-19Disability

EEOC updates vaccination guidance

On May 28, 2021, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) revised its online publication, What You Should Know About COVID-19 and the ADA, the Rehabilitation Act, and Other EEO Laws, clarifying and building on its prior vaccination guidance (see our prior reporting on that guidance here). Although the EEOC didn’t specifically answer the question…

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May 13 2021
COVID-19DisabilityHarassment & Discrimination

WASHINGTON: New law creates more pandemic worker protections

Several important developments have recently occurred in Washington state. We're addressing the following topics in this post – find the full articles below.   New law creates more pandemic worker protections. On May 11, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee signed ESSB 5115, the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), creating labor standards that automatically take effect…

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