As of January 1, 2023, the premiums will increase for Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. The premium rate will be 0.8 percent (up from 0.6 percent) of each employee’s gross wages (not including tips), up to a maximum of $160,200 (the 2023 Social Security cap). The split between employers…
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Question: We have an employee who is using intermittent family leave, but on a number of occasions failed to call in 30 minutes prior to shift, which is required by our call-in policy. We have told the employee that if they fail to comply with the policy again, they will…
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Question: Our company is located in Oregon, and we have an employee who works in person two days a week at our facility in Portland. The employee teleworks the rest of the week from their residence in Vancouver, Washington. Should we report their wages to the paid family and medical…
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Governor Jay Inslee ended the COVID-19 public health emergency for the state of Washington on October 31, 2022, but employers still have some obligations under state law. As we previously reported, the continuing requirements for COVID-19 (coronavirus) stem from Washington’s Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA) and from an ongoing obligation to…
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Question: This morning an employee contacted his supervisor through Facebook to report that he can’t come to work for at least a week because he needs surgery. Our Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy clearly states that employees must follow the call-in policy and complete a leave request form. Can we…
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The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) doesn’t require an employee to have long-term medical issues in order to establish a disability. The employee in this case was a newly hired HR generalist who was approved for an eight-week leave of…
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Question: Last year during the I-9 process, a new hire showed me a Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document) as proof of eligibility to work. The card is expiring soon and I’ve asked for updated documentation to reverify their authorization to work, but they say they don’t have any new documents. Will I have to…
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The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) has made a permanent rule that expands the reasons for Oregon paid sick leave to include time off related to emergency evacuation orders as well as unhealthy air quality or high outdoor temperatures. The permanent rule is identical to the temporary rule…
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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…
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Question: We have an employee with terrible attendance who’s now asking for 4 weeks off to have surgery in Korea, although we suspect she just wants to take time off to see family. Can we apply our attendance policy if she takes the trip and doesn’t come to work? Answer: These kinds of…
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