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Aug 27 2021
Leave LawsTermination & ResignationWashington

Legal Corner: Avoid These Three Workers’ Comp Mistakes

I advise Washington employers A LOT about discipline and terminations. One of my recent calls went like this: “Hi, we have a two-year employee who has horrible attendance and a bad attitude. No one likes working with her. She always complains about anxiety, and last week she was a no-call, no-show. When we got a…

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Aug 19 2021
ArizonaCaliforniaIdaho

Be aware of vaccine rules in your area

As some jurisdictions roll out mandatory vaccination against COVID-19 (coronavirus) for some workers, it’s important to keep an eye on requirements in your local area. Here’s a summary of where things stand as of today:   Federal requirements: On July 29, 2021, President Biden announced that federal agencies must require federal contractors who work on…

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Aug 19 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: New rules for reporting COVID-19 outbreaks

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) released new emergency rules on employer reporting and notification requirements for infectious and contagious diseases during a public health emergency, including the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic. These new rules were created to implement the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA), which took effect on May 11, 2021 (ESSB…

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Aug 19 2021
COVID-19DisabilitySafety and Health

WASHINGTON: Masks required indoors effective August 23, 2021

Governor Jay Inslee announced yesterday that all individuals, whether vaccinated or not, must wear masks when in an indoor public space beginning August 23, 2021, with limited exceptions. The Washington Department of Health responded by posting Order 20-03.4 (Face Coverings – Statewide). Significant work-related exceptions to this general requirement to wear masks indoors include the…

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Aug 05 2021
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: New L&I wage and hour guidance for employers

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) adopted two administrative policies providing guidance to Washington employers on state wage and hour topics. These policies (organized in a question and answer format) provide explanations and detailed examples of compliance with the Washington Minimum Wage Act (WMWA), which is generally more favorable toward employees than the…

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Jul 22 2021
Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: L&I offers heat stress resources

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) offers numerous training and education resources on its Be Heat Smart webpage, to help employers comply with emergency heat stress regulations that took effect on July 13, 2021. Resources include a customizable outdoor heat exposure prevention plan, a self-paced training module (which you should supplement with any company-specific…

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Jul 19 2021
Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON ALERT: Wildfire smoke regs issued, effective immediately

Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued emergency regulations on July 16, 2021, requiring employers to protect outdoor workers from wildfire smoke. The rules took effect immediately, but enforcement of new obligations to implement exposure controls and provide respiratory protection is delayed until July 23, 2021. Enforcement of training requirements is delayed until August…

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Jul 12 2021
Safety and HealthWashington

ALERT: Washington heat illness rules expand as of July 13, 2021

Expanded requirements for protecting Washington workers from outdoor heat exposure take effect on July 13, 2021. Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced the changes on July 9, 2021, stating that these emergency rules are necessary immediately to enhance protections against heat illness for outdoor workers. Washington already has outdoor heat exposure rules for…

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Jul 07 2021
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Workers’ comp FAQs from June

Got workers’ comp questions? We’ve got answers. It’s hard to keep track of all the Workers’ Compensation acronyms, definitions, best practices and more! So we’re sharing a few frequently asked questions we recently received from our Vigilant Manufacturing Retro members. What is Standard Premium; is it the same premium I pay to L&I? Standard premium…

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Jul 01 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Governor Inslee announces reopening on June 30

Governor Jay Inslee lifted many of the restrictions that applied to individuals and businesses in Washington during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, effective June 30, 2021. The remaining restrictions are posted on the governor’s webpage for COVID-19 Reopening Guidance for Businesses and Workers. With the exception of the changes discussed below, employers must continue to comply…

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Jun 17 2021
Leave LawsQ&AWashington

Q&A: Does compliance with workers’ comp satisfy FMLA obligations?

Question: Our employee was injured at work and needs to be off work for two months. The employee filed a workers’ compensation claim, which was accepted. The plant manager told the employee that medical leave is covered by workers’ comp and to call when they’re cleared to come back to work. Are we missing something?…

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Jun 17 2021
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: Industry-specific COVID-19 requirements lifted

As of June 11, 2021, Governor Jay Inslee has removed Washington’s industry-specific COVID-19 (coronavirus) requirements for certain industries, including manufacturing, construction, outdoor maintenance, and several recreation industries. Employers in these industries are now only required to follow the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) general COVID-19 workplace safety requirements. L&I’s general requirements were recently updated…

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