Recently, we discussed a new ordinance passed by the city of Portland that guarantees all employees the right to sick leave benefits. Now it seems that the state of Oregon is following Portland’s lead and considering expanding leave benefits for employees across the state. The Oregonian recently reported that Oregon’s lawmakers are considering three separate… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Employment Policies
Portland Mayor Moves to Decertify Police Commanders' Union
As with many employees across the country, a union protects the employment rights of Portland’s police commanders. A new move by the Portland mayor to decertify the police commanders’ union, however, has many employment rights advocates worried that the city is trying to infringe on the rights of commanding officers in the city. Currently, the… Read More
Seattle Taxi Cab Example May Help Exploited Workers Nationwide
How can Seattle Taxi cab drivers help Georgia container port workers? According to an in-depth story on worker’s rights from In These Times, the past experiences of unionized cab drivers in Seattle may offer hope to those workers fighting for rights in one of the busiest ports in the country. The Problem The story explains… Read More
Marijuana & Employment Law — A New Frontier?
Washington made history last November when voters approved the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana for adult users. The ballot initiative which passed eight months ago makes Washington and Colorado the only places to allow such use under state law. Eighteen other states and the DIstrict of Columbia allow marijuana use for medical purposes…. Read More
New Initiative Claims to Protect Public Employees From Unions
Though unions are normally considered organizations that protect the interests of workers, two Oregonians, along with an out-of-state donor, are pushing a ballot initiative that would seek to protect employees from union membership. The Oregonianreported in late March that Washington County attorney Jill Gibson Odell – the former legislative director in the Oregon House Republican… Read More
A Look At The Working Families Flexibility Act
233-204. That was the final tally that passed the Working Families Flexibility Act in the House of Representatives. The Working Families Flexibility Act would touch private-sector Washington state employees as well as private-sector employees nationwide. The crux of the Republican-backed bill is fairly simple: employees would be able to receive “comp” time instead of overtime… Read More
Washington Harassment Lawsuit Dismissed
As we discussed previously, Evans Fruit Co, a Yakima-based fruit company has recently been faced with not one but two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of the company’s current and former orchard workers. The first suit dealt with sexual harassment claims, the second suit alleged retaliation. Both of… Read More
Understanding Portland's Paid Sick Leave Ordinance
Last month, the Portland City Council unanimously voted to enact an ordinance guaranteeing the right to sick leave for employees in the city of Portland. The Portland ordinance follows similar measures enacted in San Francisco and Seattle, and it was pushed through by a large coalition of local activists and groups, including the non-profit Family… Read More
Your Job and Your Jury Duty Rights
As a resident of the beautiful state of Washington, jury duty is your civic duty. Don’t worry, you are not being picked on—every state places similar obligations on their residents. You may have received many jury duty summons in your adult life and never been chosen to sit on a trial. That doesn’t matter here…. Read More
What It Means To Be An Independent Contractor
Full-time, part-time, contractor and consultant – Washington employees can take on a variety of work relationships. And with the growing employment diversity the state has been enjoying, this range will continue to grow. One thing that manyWashington employees may not realize is that their employment classification also comes with different legal implications. Two of the… Read More