Vigilant Blog

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

Showing posts by Kandis Sells

Photo of Kandis Sells
Mar 16 2023
Harassment & Discrimination  

WASHINGTON: Seattle is first to ban caste discrimination

Seattle has become the first city in the U.S. to include caste as a legally protected class for unlawful workplace discrimination. The Seattle city council voted on February 22, 2023, to amend the city law to ban caste discrimination in workplaces, housing, and public services. The new ban was signed…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Feb 02 2023
COVID-19Safety and Health  

WASHINGTON: COVID-19 temporary worker housing rules evolve

On January 14, 2023, the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I)’s COVID-19 (coronavirus) emergency rules that had been in place for temporary worker housing (TWH) in the agriculture industry expired and were not renewed. While this means that the remaining emergency restrictions have been lifted, agricultural employers providing TWH must continue…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Dec 15 2022
Leave Laws  

WASHINGTON Q&A: Consider requiring WPFML documentation

Question: We have an employee on medical leave who applied for WPFML benefits, but the notice we received from ESD only provides a broad date range for the approved leave with no other information. How are we supposed to keep track of this? Answer: Consider requiring the employee to provide you…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Oct 06 2022
Disability  

WASHINGTON: New rules published on long-term care

The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) published new rules last week for implementation of the WA Cares Fund, Washington’s new long-term care insurance program. Washington employers will remember that this fund was hastily “paused” by Governor Jay Inslee and the legislature in January, and then modified in the 2022 legislative session to delay the…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Oct 06 2022
Wage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: Minimum wage and exempt salary increase in 2023

The state of Washington has announced increases in the minimum wage rate and the exempt salary thresholds for employees, effective January 1, 2023. These increases impact several state wage requirements that you’ll want to be aware of if you have employees in Washington. The cities of Seattle and SeaTac also have…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Apr 07 2022
Leave Laws  

WASHINGTON: New law makes changes to PFML

The Washington legislature passed a handful of changes to the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, which were signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee on March 30, 2022 (SSSB 5649). These key changes are effective June 9, 2022: Family leave may now be used for bereavement for seven calendar…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Feb 17 2022
Leave LawsWage and Hour  

Q&A: Employee working from home in Seattle gets Seattle rights

Question: An employee working remotely from her home in Seattle is demanding a raise because the Seattle minimum wage increased this year. Our company doesn’t have any locations or other employees in the city, so Seattle’s laws don’t apply to us, right? Answer: If you have even one employee who works within the Seattle city…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Jan 06 2022
Leave Laws  

WASHINGTON: Collect higher PFML premiums in 2022

As of January 1, 2022, both the premiums and maximum weekly benefits have increased for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The premium rate has increased to 0.6% of each employee’s gross wages (not including tips), up to a maximum of $147,000 (which is the 2022 Social Security cap). The split…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Oct 21 2021
Wage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: Seattle and SeaTac increase minimum wages in 2022

The minimum wage in both Seattle and SeaTac will exceed $17.00 an hour as of January 1, 2022. The City of Seattle is increasing its minimum wage requirement to $17.27 per hour for most employers. Seattle’s minimum wage rates apply to all non-exempt employees for all hours they work within the city…

Read More…
Photo of Kandis Sells
Oct 07 2021
Wage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: Minimum wage and exempt salary increase in 2022

The state of Washington has announced increases in the minimum wage rate and the exempt salary thresholds for employees, effective January 1, 2022. These increases impact several state wage requirements that you’ll want to be aware of if you have employees in Washington. The cities of Seattle and SeaTac have higher…

Read More…