The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) took effect on April 1, 2020.
As most employers are aware by now, the FFCRA creates an 80-hour bank of Emergency Paid Sick
Leave that can be taken by employees affected by COVID-19 in certain situations. […]

The coronavirus emergency has hit every employer hard, none more so than
unionized employers who must deal with their unions while also considering significant and
immediate operational changes. This raises the simple question: As a unionized employer, how must
and should you deal with your unions during this pandemic crisis?

As we shared with you in our March 28th Note (“Congress Showers
Employers with Loan Programs, Tax Credits, and Other Incentives to Retain
Employees”), new loan programs under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security
Act (“CARES Act”) for mid-sized employers and non-profits come with significant strings attached
for those employers wishing to participate in these new loan programs.

Just nine days ago, Congress enacted a massive expansion of emergency employee leave benefits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Congress has now followed this up with the largest spending bill in world history.

As you have no doubt heard, Governor Jay Inslee issued a “Stay Home, Stay Healthy”
Order on March 23, 2020. The Order directed that Washington residents must remain in
their homes until at least April 8, 2020, unless they are engaging in an “essential activity.” […]

Late on Wednesday, March 18, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
The Act does many things to address the COVID-19 pandemic: among them are the creation of two important new leave obligations for most employers throughout the country. The Act also takes effect in just two weeks – on April 2, 2020 – leaving very little time for employers to begin taking steps to get compliant. […]

If you have employees, you will eventually receive a question about what your company is doing to respond to COVID-19, popularly known as the “coronavirus.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published guidance […]

The National Labor Relations Board ended 2019 and began 2020 with a bang by reversing Obama-era case law on several fronts, and by issuing new union election rules designed to make the playing field more level when a union seeks to unionize workers.

The National Labor Relations Board ended 2019 with a bang by reversing

2019 was an eventful year for the Washington legislature with respect to employment law matters. The Legislature enacted (and the Governor signed) important new laws on a range of subjects: pre-offer inquiries into wage or salary history, non-competition agreements, accommodating employees’ need to express breast milk, “panic buttons” for certain workers, and important amendments to the nascent Paid Family and Medical Leave law […]

To be exempt from overtime pay, an employee must (1) perform certain defined job duties (“the duties test”) and (2) be paid a fixed salary that meets or exceeds the state or federal salary threshold (“the salary basis” test). Most Washington workers are covered […]

On January 1, 2020, Washington will become the fifth state to implement a mandatory paid family and medical leave
program, joining California, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. (Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Oregon have enacted similar laws, but they do not take effect until 2021 or later.) In Washington, the […]