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Jun 19 2018
Wage and HourWashington

Pay Washington agricultural piece-rate workers for nonproductive time

The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that employers are required to compensate agricultural piece-rate workers on a separate hourly basis for all nonproductive time spent performing activities outside of piece-rate picking work. This nonproductive time must be paid at the applicable minimum wage or a contractually agreed rate, whichever is higher. The ruling arises from…

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Jun 13 2018
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Why Vigilant Retro, according to member Fabrication Products, Inc.

Why We Stay Vigilant: A few minutes with one of our Retro Group members. We recently asked the owner and president of Washington manufacturer, Fabrication Products, Inc.—a member for more than 17 years—what she thought about teaming with Vigilant. What made you decide to join the Vigilant Workers’ Comp Retro Group? We partnered with Vigilant…

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May 31 2018
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

How to grade a workers’ comp retro group

Top 3 Questions You Should Ask When Evaluating a Retro Group Being part of a retrospective rating program is important for your business. The goal is to find a retro partner that matches the needs and culture of your company, is committed to helping you drive down your up-front premium costs, and boasts a great…

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May 30 2018
Harassment & DiscriminationHiringSafety and Health

New domestic violence law expands protections in Washington

Washington has significantly revised its Domestic Violence Leave law to prohibit discrimination against applicants or employees who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. The new law applies to all employers as of June 7, 2018, and prohibits employers from: Refusing to hire an actual or perceived victim of domestic violence, sexual assault,…

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May 29 2018
CaliforniaHarassment & DiscriminationOregon

Brace for impact of pay equity laws

With Starbucks’ recent announcement that the company has achieved 100 percent pay equity by race and gender for U.S. workers performing similar jobs, most employers are left wondering how Starbucks got there—and how they can get there, too. The topic of equal pay continues to make headlines, and California, Oregon, and Washington are at the…

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May 15 2018
Harassment & DiscriminationPrivacy & ConfidentialityWashington

New Washington laws limit harassment nondisclosure agreements

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has signed two new laws intended to encourage public disclosure and discussion of sexual harassment in the workplace. Both of these laws take effect on June 7, 2018. #1: Substitute Senate Bill 6313 Substitute Senate Bill 6313 makes an employment agreement void and unenforceable if it requires an employee to: (a)…

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May 09 2018
Harassment & DiscriminationHiringWashington

Washington Governor signs statewide “ban the box” law

Washington’s new “ban the box” law, which takes effect June 7, 2018, prohibits private employers from asking about criminal history before deciding whether an applicant meets the basic criteria for the position. It also prohibits job ads that automatically exclude people with criminal histories from applying (e.g., by saying “no felons” or “no criminal background”)….

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Apr 11 2018
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

OSHA citations upheld against fab shop that improperly rigged load from crane

A federal court of appeals has confirmed two serious citations from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) against a fabrication shop when a 5,000 lb. pipe assembly was improperly rigged to an overhead crane. A pipefitter in the shop was a journey worker with 12 years of experience. While the supervisor was in…

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Mar 28 2018
Wage and HourWashington

Washington Governor signs pay equity reform bill

On March 21, 2018, Washington officially joined the multitude of states tackling pay disparity as Governor Jay Inslee signed the Equal Pay Opportunity Act (Second Substitute House Bill 1506). The Act significantly expands Washington’s existing pay equity law for the first time since its adoption in 1943. Applying to all employers with at least one…

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Mar 20 2018
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Raise hazard awareness and reduce workplace accidents

What’s a good way to ensure that employees are aware of the hazards associated with an unfamiliar task or upset condition they are about to address? Card ‘em!   More specifically, have them complete a checklist of potential hazards and controls before they begin, along with assessing their own mental state. It’s a key tool…

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Mar 06 2018
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Vigilant uncovers tattoo business fraud, saves Retro Group member over $150K in red ink

Vigilant Exposes Workers’ Comp Fraud, Injured Welder Faces Charges for Covering Up Tattoo Business When it comes to sniffing out fraud in a workers’ comp case, Vigilant’s claims managers are as tenacious as bulldogs. When they see a red flag, they sink their teeth in and don’t let go. Take the recent case of a…

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Feb 23 2018
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Finger amputation leads to safety investigation; Washington manufacturer fined $92K

Hazardous moving machinery poses some of the most serious safety challenges to both workers and manufacturers. If a company overlooks or fails to monitor safety procedures, how can it expect its workers to safely operate dangerous equipment that could potentially cause severe injury? A company could face steep fines but workers risk much more—the amputation…

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