COVID-19Employee BenefitsLeave LawsSafety and Health  

COVID-19: Q&A’s with our Vigilant Law Group employment attorneys

Employer questions continue as federal and state restrictions increase In recent days, the number of confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases has dramatically increased, as have government-imposed restrictions to contain its spread. Not surprisingly, the rapid changes have caused great concern among employers that are trying to keep their workers employed while also…

COVID-19Employee BenefitsLeave LawsSafety and Health  

Employer questions continue as federal and state restrictions increase

In recent days, the number of confirmed COVID-19 (coronavirus) cases has dramatically increased, as have government-imposed restrictions to contain its spread. Not surprisingly, the rapid changes have caused great concern among employers that are trying to keep their workers employed while also keeping them safe. We previously provided answers to…

HiringImmigration  

New Form I-9 released on January 31, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) finally updated Form I-9 and its accompanying instructions—both have a “10/21/2019” revision date in the lower left corner, although they weren't released until January 31, 2020. Employers must use the updated version to verify new hires’ identities and employment eligibility no later than April 30, 2020. The changes are…

Leave Laws  

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave resources released

The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) just released new resources to help your employees apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits starting on January 1, 2020. The downloadable tools are available here, and include a Parent’s Guide (how to apply for bonding leave), a Patient and Family Guide (how to…

Leave Laws  

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave Resources

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave is coming. Starting on January 1, 2020, your employees will be able to apply for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits. The law created a lot of questions and many employers are still struggling to find answers. We're here to help. Below you will find a number…

Webinar  

Recorded Webinar: Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave

WHAT EMPLOYERS NEED TO KNOW Starting on January 1, 2020, your employees will be able to apply for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits. Are you ready? If not, you’re not alone. The law created a lot questions. And, the rules released by the Employment Security Department don’t answer them all. Vigilant…

Q&A: Don’t use lie detectors to investigate theft

Question: Our petty cash has been disappearing lately. There are three employees with access to the cash drawer. Can we use lie detectors as long as we test all three?   Answer: No, that’s not enough to justify such a test. Although you’re attempting to be non-discriminatory in testing everyone, using lie detectors on employees is…

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…

Wage and Hour  

$102M awarded for wage statement and meal violations in California

A federal district court in California recently awarded Wal-Mart employees $102 million in damages and penalties for missed meals and insufficient wage statements. The class action claim was divided into three parts: missed meals, wage statements missing hourly rates, and final pay statements without pay period start and end dates.…