Most people have seen the “X days since last workplace accident” signs at some point in their life. The larger the number of days the better it is for employers and employees. Spokane Purina Mill will have a very small number after an accident on October 5. The Spokesman-Review reported on the recent unfortunate workplace accident in Spokane. A 29 year old man was working above the grain mill on
The Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (“L&I”) claims that a co-owner of a restaurant in Spokane fraudulently claimed almost $250,000 in workers’ compensation benefits. Wanitta Racicot, who co-owns the Broadway Bar & Grill, claimed that she suffered work-related injuries in 2001 that made her unable to work in her restaurant, according to an article from the Spokane Spokesman-Review. Racicot is expected to enter a plea to the charges
Hair stylist Melanie Strandberg quit her job at a spa in Spokane after she was told to wear a wig to cover her bald head at work. The Spokane Spokesman-Review reports that she has since filed a discrimination lawsuit against her former employer. The question is, what kind of discrimination did she face? After Strandberg learned that her sister would have to undergo chemotherapy treatment for cancer, she shaved her
The Spokane Journal of Business recently published an article which might cause worry among some in the area. The story noted how newly released information indicates that the average hourly wage in Spokane is about 6% behind the nationwide average–$20.65/hour compared with the $22.01/hour. According to data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor, this represented a slightly widening gap as the discrepancy was only 5% the prior year. The
Every day employees throughout Washington are forced to fight to ensure that they receive the full scope of wages to which they are entitled. Unfortunately, many employers try to skirt the law and employment contracts, particularly when it comes to more confusing aspects of payment requirements, like overtime pay or back-payment for unused vacation time. Employees are often unclear about their rights, and some may simply accept the actions of
