We recently discussed federal and state minimum wage issues in a blog post highlighting McDonald’s somewhat out-of-touch proposed budget for its minimum wage employees. “Big box” retailers have long been the subject of criticism for paying their workers particularly low wages, drawing displeasure from observers who claim that the companies fail to pay their employees… Read More
Posts Categorized In: Employment Policies
Am I Entitled to Overtime Pay?
Many employers are under the mistaken belief that simply because an employee is salaried, they are not entitled to overtime pay. The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), as well as any applicable laws in your jurisdiction, regulate issues such as minimum wage, overtime, record keeping, and child labor. When certain employees work in excess… Read More
Washington State and Federal Laws Protect Nursing Mothers
Pregnant women are protected from discrimination under Washington and federal law, but employers and employees may not be aware that new mothers also enjoy certain legal protections. One important issue that the laws address is the rights of breastfeeding mothers. Knowing these laws will help employers avoid employment lawsuits and will help employees protect their… Read More
Collecting Final Wages from Closed or Defunct Businesses
In these current economic times, job security is a luxury. It seems that we cannot go a day without hearing about layoffs or another company filing for bankruptcy. Sometimes, when companies are forced to cease operations, they may not have enough money to pay their employee’s final wages. Not only are the employees then out… Read More
Oregon Law on Independent Contractors
Many businesses may have multiple people working for them on a part-time or contractual basis, fulfilling needs as they arise or as particular projects come up. Generally, most employers think of these workers as independent contractors, and in many cases they may be correct. Sometimes, however, conduct on the part of an employer may actually… Read More
What Happens When You File a Disability Claim?
In Washington, employees who believe that they have been the victim of workplace discrimination can file a discrimination lawsuit under state or federal law. Federal laws against discrimination are enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”), and Washington laws are enforced by the Human Rights Commission (“HRC”). The federal and state laws and… Read More
The Oregon Family Leave Act
Nearly everyone will have to deal with certain life events that can make working nearly impossible. As a result, both state and federal law mandate that employers give their employees a certain amount of leave to deal with certain types of events. The types of events that make an employee eligible for leave include the… Read More
How to File a Wage Claim in Oregon
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) sets out strict guidelines for how employees must be compensated for their work. For example, to comply with the federal law, employers must pay each employee a minimum of $7.25 per hour. Employees who work over 40 hours per week must be paid a higher overtime rate unless their… Read More
Washington Minimum Wage Law Applies to Employees Working for Commission
The Washington Minimum Wage Act (“MWA”) requires that employees’ wages at least equal the minimum hourly rate. The MWA is fairly straightforward for employees who are paid by the hour. However, the MWA can be complicated when workers are paid by commission or piece rate, because they still must receive at least the minimum wage…. Read More
State Employee Faces Ethics Charges for Massaging Coworkers (and Rules)
A recent investigation by the Washington State Auditor’s Office revealed that a former employee of the Department of Ecology had spent more than 85 hours giving coworkers massages while on the clock. The employee was training to become a massage therapist and was using state time to fulfill practice requirements to obtain her license. The… Read More