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Showing posts for: Washington

Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Employee BenefitsWashington

WASHINGTON: Work search requirements waived for unemployment

Governor Inslee signed a proclamation that waives the work search requirements for receiving unemployment insurance. The governor previously waived the one-week waiting period, so the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) can provide immediate benefits to those who have been financially impacted by COVID-19 (coronavirus). “We need to do whatever we can to help those…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Online form available to clarify essential business status

For Washington businesses still unclear about whether they’re essential and thus allowed to continue operating during Governor Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy Order, the state has created a simple online form to request clarification or ask to be added to the list of essential businesses. The order, which closed non-essential businesses in Washington for two…

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Mar 27 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Home and commercial construction not “essential”

On March 25, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee released a memo clarifying which construction workers are included in the “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” list. Only those included on the list are allowed to travel to their essential businesses, according to the governor’s Stay Home—Stay Healthy Order, which seeks to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The…

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Mar 24 2020
COVID-19Leave LawsWashington

WASHINGTON: Seattle expands Paid Sick and Safe Time

On March 16, 2020, the Seattle City Council passed an amendment to Seattle’s Paid Sick and Paid Safe Time (PSST) law which expands the available reasons for leave, inspired by caregiver shortages and workplace closures caused by COVID-19 (coronavirus). The amendment became effective immediately on March 16, 2020, with no expiration date.   The amendment…

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Mar 24 2020
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: State recommends screening employees and visitors

The Washington Department of Health (DOH) recently released guidance recommending that all employers in the state conduct daily health screening of employees and visitors for symptoms of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The screening protocol suggests asking all employees and visitors a series of five specific “yes” or “no” questions before entering the premises or starting their shift…

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Mar 12 2020
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Part 4: Deconstructing a 30% retro refund – claims management

Dear Washington Manufacturer, The most recent letter in our series on deconstructing a 30% Retro refund highlighted the positive impact of customized and dedicated loss prevention services. This letter shares why sophisticated claims management strategies have a similar effect: lowering upfront premiums and increasing Retro refunds. We acknowledge and sympathize with the complexity of workers’…

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Mar 04 2020
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Part 3: You’re invited to receive a 30% retro refund

Dear Washington Manufacturer, You’re invited to apply for participation in Vigilant’s best-in-class Manufacturing Retrospective Rating Program—members are projected to receive a 30% refund for the most recent Retro plan year. Because of the elite composition of the manufacturers in our program, our use of proprietary data analytics, and our staff’s dedication, we expect that number…

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Feb 25 2020
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Part 2: Strong refunds are achieved by lowering workers’ comp premiums

This is the second in a series of letters deconstructing Vigilant’s projected 30% refund for the most recent Retro plan year. In the first letter we focused on demystifying the black box of the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) workers’ compensation system. This letter shares why a 30% refund starts with a focus…

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Feb 11 2020
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Part 1: Demystifying the black box of L&I’s Workers’ Compensation

Dear Washington Manufacturer, Vigilant’s most recent Retro plan year is projected to earn a 30% premium refund. This is the result of obsessing and hard work. Over the next several weeks, our team will begin to deconstruct achieving a 30% refund, beginning with this letter from me on demystifying the “Black Box of L&I’s Workers’…

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Jan 28 2020
Leave LawsWashington

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave poster and notice now available online

It’s a new year and Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) benefits are in full effect. The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) closed out 2019 by publishing the new WPFML workplace poster required for all Washington employers. The poster must be displayed where you usually post other employment-related notices, such as in the breakroom…

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Dec 23 2019
Employee BenefitsLeave LawsWashington

Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave rules finalized; access our resources

January 1, 2020, the date your employees will be able to apply for Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) benefits, is right around the corner. Here’s an update on where things stand and a reminder about our resources: Rulemaking: The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) has completed its rulemaking (click the “INFO” tab for…

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Dec 13 2019
Wage and HourWashington

ALERT: Washington changes salary and duties tests for exempt employees

On December 11, 2019, Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced major changes to Washington’s minimum salary requirements for exempt workers and to the “duties test” for executive, administrative, and professional workers, which will be effective July 1, 2020. As Vigilant previously reported, when L&I first proposed these rules, Vigilant submitted comments suggesting a…

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