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Jun 10 2025
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Retro Group Assessments: Are You at Risk and How to Stay in the Refund Zone

                        Retro group assessments can turn expected refunds into unexpected costs. We’re breaking down why they happen, how to spot warning signs, and what you can do to stay in the refund zone. Why do Assessments Happen? Assessments don’t just happen out of the…

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Jun 09 2025
HiringWage and HourWashington

New Washington bill updates wage disclosure law for job postings

                Governor Bob Ferguson has signed SSB 5408, updating the job posting provisions of the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act, effective July 27, 2025. Employers may now include a fixed wage amount when offering only a fixed wage amount for a job opening or internal transfer. This amends…

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Jun 09 2025
Employee BenefitsLeave LawsWashington

Big changes to Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave law

              On May 17, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed legislation making significant changes to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave program (WPFML) (ESSHB 1213). The amended law expands job protection to employees of smaller companies, creates a time limit on job protection rights, allows employers to count leave…

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May 20 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationSafety and HealthWage and Hour

Washington Governor signs 2025 legislation

                The 2025 legislative session ended on April 27, 2025, with Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signing multiple employment-related bills into law. We separately reported on three of those bills in our last newsletter (expansion of the Fair Chance Act, paid leave for immigration proceedings, and prohibition of driver’s…

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May 19 2025
Employee BenefitsLeave LawsTermination & Resignation

Washington state-level WARN Act adds major compliance hurdles

                On May 13, 2025, Governor Ferguson signed ESSB 5525, creating significant obligations for Washington employers conducting specific mass layoffs and business closings. Since 1989, the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN Act) has required employers with 100 or more full-time employees to provide advance notice…

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May 19 2025
Q&AWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Q&A: Can compensable claims occur before or after work

                Question: Our employee fell in the parking lot on their way to work, prior to clocking in for their shift. Would the injury be considered a compensable workers’ comp claim if the worker had not yet started their shift? Answer: Probably not, but small details could change the answer….

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May 05 2025
Harassment & DiscriminationHiringWashington

New Washington law prohibits driver’s licenses requirements

                Governor Ferguson has signed SSB 5501, a new law that prohibits employers from discrimination based on whether an applicant or employee has a driver’s license. Beginning on July 27, 2025, employers are prohibited from requiring a driver’s license as a condition of employment or including a statement…

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May 05 2025
ImmigrationLeave LawsWashington

Washington paid leave now available for immigration proceedings

                Governor Ferguson has signed SHB 1875, revising the Washington Paid Sick Leave law (WPSL) to allow employees to use paid sick leave for absences related to immigration proceedings. The revised law takes effect on July 27, 2025. The new law allows employees to use paid sick leave…

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May 02 2025
Washington

Washington legislature significantly expands Fair Chance Act

                Governor Ferguson has signed HB 1747, which amends Washington’s Fair Chance Act and further restricts employers’ use of criminal records in making employment decisions. As we reported in 2018, Washington’s “Fair Chance Act” prohibits most employers from asking about criminal history before deciding whether an applicant meets…

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Apr 21 2025
Safety and HealthWashington

Washington L&I makes wildfire smoke AQI levels official

                As promised, Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) updated its rules for protecting employees from wildfire smoke, incorporating changes the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made to its color-coded Air Quality Index (AQI) in May 2024. As we previously reported, when the EPA published its…

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Mar 20 2025
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Vigilant Claims Review? How does it work?

              Q&A: What is a Vigilant claims review anyway? Curious what a Vigilant claims review is all about and what it can reveal? Great! Are you a Washington manufacturing or agribusiness looking to better understand your workers’ comp performance and uncover opportunities for improvement? If so, you’re in the…

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Feb 10 2025
Wage and HourWashington

WASHINGTON: Low-wage workers could moonlight for competitor

                The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled that employees’ duty of loyalty and any exceptions to worker mobility should be narrowly construed, so employers cannot restrict low wage workers from working a second job (even for a competitor) unless those restrictions are reasonable in light of the facts….

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