May 05 2022

Affirmative ActionHiringWage and Hour  

Federal contractors settle group hiring and pay claims with OFCCP

The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) recently secured three significant settlements from employers with federal contracts. The companies didn’t admit liability, but signed conciliation agreements after routine affirmative action audits uncovered disparities in hiring and compensation. IQVIA Inc. agreed to pay $550,000 in back wages and interest to resolve allegations that…

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Apr 07 2022

Employee BenefitsHiringWage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: Employers must disclose pay info in all job postings

On March 30, 2022, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed Substitute Senate Bill 5761, which requires employers with 15 or more employees to include the wage scale or salary range in each job posting, along with a general description of all benefits and other compensation for the job, effective January 1,…

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Apr 07 2022

Wage and Hour  

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…

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Apr 07 2022

Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityWage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: 2022 legislature limits confidentiality agreements

On March 24, 2022, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law ESHB 1795, which prohibits employers from requiring a prospective, current, or former employee (or an independent contractor) to sign any agreement that prevents the disclosure of alleged discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual assault, wage and hour violations, or conduct that is…

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Mar 17 2022

Wage and Hour  

Q&A: Include shift differentials and bonuses in overtime calculations

Question: A swing shift employee contacted Payroll, upset that her overtime rate didn’t include her shift differential. Our policy is to only use the base rate when calculating overtime. Is that okay? Answer: The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires nonexempt employees to be paid overtime at one-and-one-half times their “regular rate,” not…

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Mar 17 2022

HiringWage and Hour  

President signs new arbitration law

On March 3, 2022, President Biden signed the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act (H.R. 4445) into law. Vigilant recently reported on the significant changes and impact of H.R. 4445 on mandatory arbitration agreements. Tips: We encourage you to ensure that your anti-harassment policies are up to…

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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…

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Feb 11 2022

COVID-19Leave LawsWage and Hour

CALIFORNIA: COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave is back

On February 9, 2022, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law reviving supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL). California employers with 26 or more employees will need to provide up to 80 hours of SPSL to employees who are unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The new COVID-19…

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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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Jan 06 2022

Wage and Hour  

WASHINGTON: Governor says long-term care deductions begin Jan. 1

On December 23, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee clarified that employer deductions from employees’ wages under Washington’s Long Term Care Act are required by law to begin January 1, 2022, except for workers who purchased their own insurance and successfully applied for an exemption. Just a few days earlier, he had announced that he…

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