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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19Safety and HealthWashington

WASHINGTON: DOSH implements COVID-19 workplace enforcement

Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) has issued a directive to its safety compliance officers outlining the standards for evaluating workplace safety measures to protect workers from COVID-19 (coronavirus). DOSH compliance officers who inspect the workplace will generally expect you to have the following basic measures in place: Educate workers (and customers, if…

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Apr 09 2020
COVID-19CaliforniaIdaho

Extended school closures mean more leave requests

As school closures due to COVID-19 (coronavirus) are being extended, employers will likely see more leave requests from workers. Officials in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington have closed in-person instruction through the end of the school year. In Idaho, schools are closed through the end of the school year but local school districts have the…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Washington

WASHINGTON: Order extended to May 4; business list updated

Last night Governor Jay Inslee extended his Stay Home – Stay Healthy order through May 4, 2020. The order, which was issued to slow the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus), was originally in effect through April 6, 2020. The order prevents individuals from leaving home unless they engage in essential activities or essential business services. Unless…

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Apr 03 2020
COVID-19Employee BenefitsLeave Laws

WASHINGTON: ESD proposes new rules for PFML

The Washington Employment Security Department (ESD) is asking for feedback by May 6, 2020, on proposed rules affecting the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. These proposals have nothing to do with the current pandemic or federal emergency leave benefits and are mostly minor technical changes. However, they do include a long-awaited requirement…

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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 27 2020
COVID-19WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

WASHINGTON: L&I offers payment plans to struggling businesses

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)’s Employer Assistance Program is designed to work with financially distressed businesses during hard times, and arrange for payment plans for workers’ compensation premiums. This may be helpful if your business is struggling due to issues related to COVID-19 (coronavirus). The program allows a business to ask for…

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Mar 27 2020
DisabilityLeave LawsWage and Hour

WASHINGTON: Paid Family and Medical Leave law amended

On March 25, 2020, Governor Inslee signed an amendment to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) program (SHB 2614). This bill doesn’t have anything to do with the current pandemic. Instead, it makes technical corrections to the WPFML program, to ensure the intent of the original bill is intact. The new bill signed…

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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 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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