Vigilant Blog

Pursuant to a new rule adopted by the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I), employers will be required to abate certain safety violations even if they are appealing the citation. The rule implements a recently enacted state law (SSB 5068, 2011 Wash Laws Ch. 91).  The law already took effect on July 22, 2011,…

Do you have employees that perform work within the city of Seattle? If so, then you’ll need to be sure to comply with the City of Seattle’s new paid sick time ordinance, approved by the City Council on September 12, 2011 (   (employers of 5 to 49 FTEs): Employees must accrue at least one hour…

SB 5445 sets up the basic framework for the health insurance exchange, but many details remain to be sorted out. Vigilant will update its members on further developments (2011 Wash Laws Chap 317).

Employers generally will be required to promptly correct unsafe conditions even while they are in the process of appealing safety citations, under a new law signed by Governor Gregoire. Currently, the time clock for correcting unsafe conditions doesn’t start ticking until any appeals have worked their way through the system. The new law changes that…

Governor Chris Gregoire has signed EHB 1091, companion bills that lower unemployment insurance tax rates for many Washington employers. This legislation caps employer taxes in some areas, adjusts tax rates, expands the unemployment insurance training benefits program, and allows long-term unemployed people to access federally funded extended benefits. The legislation also authorizes the use of…

Gross misconduct: the rules now provide examples of conduct that will automatically be considered “flagrant and wanton” conduct for purposes of meeting the “gross misconduct” standard under the unemployment rules. Examples include: a medical provider found to be under the influence of illegal narcotics while at work, a health care worker who steals money or…