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Showing posts for: Jodi Slavik

Jan 26 2026
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON Q&A: Rising cost of missed meals and rest periods

Question: We keep hearing about lawsuits against companies for not complying with Washington’s meal and rest period requirements. What’s really the financial risk and what can we do about it? Answer: The financial risk is substantial. Class action lawsuits have become prevalent in Washington, claiming nonexempt (hourly) employees are owed penalties and damages for missed…

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Jan 05 2026
Employee BenefitsLeave LawsWashington

In Washington Health benefits may need to start during paid leave

As of January 1, 2026, several important changes to Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) have taken effect (as we previously reported), including expanded health benefit coverage, which will affect employees whose leave crosses over from the end of 2025 into the beginning of 2026. Currently, health benefits continue if there’s at least one…

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Aug 07 2025
Privacy & ConfidentialityQ&ASafety and Health

Q&A: Consider whether your company will allow smart glasses

Question: We have an employee who started wearing a pair of “smart” eyeglasses to work. We only found out because he showed his peers some pictures he took while working. We have a policy that prohibits cell phones on the production floor for this very reason. His glasses are prescription. Can we still ban them?…

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Jul 25 2025
DisabilityHarassment & DiscriminationSafety and Health

Q&A: Avoid 5 common mistakes in disability accommodation

Question: I have an employee who brought in a doctor’s note that says she should work from home any time her anxiety flares up. Most of her job can’t be done remotely, and I don’t think she’ll focus at home. Can I tell her “no”? Answer: Even if the accommodation isn’t feasible, you can’t say…

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Jun 30 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationWage and HourWashington

Washington equal pay and opportunity regulations released

To help explain and clarify changes to the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) that take effect on July 1, 2025, the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has released new rules that take effect on the same day. The EPOA has undergone multiple revisions in recent years, including expanded worker protections (beyond…

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Jun 23 2025
HiringTermination & Resignation

New requirements in Washington for personnel files coming soon

On May 13th Governor Ferguson signed SHB 1308, which changes how and when employers must provide personnel files to employees, effective July 27, 2025. Below are the key provisions: Employees, former employees (those who separated within three years of the request date), and their designees can ask for personnel records. Personnel records (if created by…

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Apr 18 2025
HiringImmigrationQ&A

Q&A: What to do when the feds tell your employee to leave

Question: An employee received an email from the federal government telling him to leave the U.S. immediately because his parole (temporary immigration approval for asylum seekers) was terminated. Is this a hoax? If it isn’t, what do we do? Answer: The email isn’t a hoax. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent notices on April…

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Apr 04 2025
Wage and Hour

Q&A: Be careful with automatic lunch deductions

Question: We automatically deduct 30 minutes for meal breaks from our employees’ time records and a new payroll person is questioning this practice. Should we be concerned? Answer: You should think twice about any company practice that runs on autopilot, especially when it involves employee wages. Employers typically establish automatic meal break deductions to save…

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May 17 2024
Safety and Health

Prevent heat illness this summer

With the quickly warming weather, it’s time to review your safety plans for protecting workers from heat illness hazards and to ensure compliance with state regulations. Cal/OSHA and Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) requirements depend on outdoor temperature thresholds, while Oregon OSHA rules apply to indoor or outdoor work when the heat index…

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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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