Washington residents, outside of Seattle, with criminal records and who are contemplating where to apply for a job may want to think about Target. Target made news this week when it announced that it was dropping the question about criminal history from its applications nationwide. Starting January 1st, anyone applying to work at Target will… Read More
Employment Blog
Here you can find the most recent employment law news and commentary on cases around the country. If you need assistance with employment law, don't hesitate to call us.
Washington Employees Are Allowed Time Off for Jury Duty But Not Elections
On November 5, SeaTac residents will decide whether they will raise the nation’s highest minimum wage from $9.19 to $15 an hour. Proposition 1, if passed, would require business in the SeaTac area to pay employees more than double the national minimum wage. The dramatic increase in minimum wage is intended to help struggling SeaTac… Read More
Meal Break Requirements in Oregon
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and Oregon Revised Statute 653.261 both regulate minimum employment conditions for workplaces within the state. Such minimum conditions include minimum hourly wages, required overtime payments, and required rest and meal periods. These conditions do not apply to all employees, however, as many employees are classified as “exempt” from… Read More
What is a Managing Agent and why is it Important?
In many discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, a plaintiff can only receive punitive damages if the offending behavior involved a “managing agent.” Punitive damages means additional money is awarded to the plaintiff above and beyond tangible damages, in order to try to deter future offensive conduct and reform the defendants. Punitive damages can be substantial… Read More
New Trends in Vacation Policies
One of the many perks of many jobs is the ability to take paid time off or paid vacation time. However, vacation time can also be a touchy subject in many workplaces. For instance, employees often complain that favoritism can play a huge role in manager approval of certain employees’ requested vacatio6n time, especially on… Read More
Washington Avoids Supermarket Strike
In a moment somewhat reminiscent of the recent government shutdown and debt ceiling crisis, Washington supermarkets narrowly averted a strike with a last minute agreement. A Seattle Times article details the preparations customers, employers and employees made in light of the impending strike. Some customers stocked up early on essentials to avoid crossing picket lines…. Read More
Seattle Man Fired Over His Beard Wins Lawsuit
A Seattle man fired because of his beard later won over $66,000 because of that very same beard. The Seattle P-I reported on Abdulkadir Omar, a Seattle Muslim man, who was hired as a security guard by a security firm, American Patriot Security, to guard a Kent FedEx building. He was hired with his beard,… Read More
Two Growing Seattle Tech Companies Announce IPO, But Gender Gap Persists
The Puget Sound Business Journal reported on Tableau Software and Zulily’s recent announcements for their IPOs. But the story was not about the two companies’ future financial prospects or even the services they provide. The article focuses on a continuing trend in the tech industry. The trend is a stark lack of women at the… Read More
University of Washington Fined for Withholding Bias Claim Information
A judge has fined the University of Washington more than $720,000 for withholding information during a gender bias lawsuit. The lawsuit arose in 2009 when Isabelle Bichindaritz, a professor at the Tacoma branch campus, was denied tenure for the third time. She had been teaching at the University since 2002 in the computer-science department. The… Read More
Oregon Senator Defends Nuclear Whistleblower
The Hanford Nuclear Reservation has long been a health and environmental concern for Oregonians. Hanford is the most contaminated site in the nation, and many of the underground tanks holding nuclear waste are leaking. If the waste is not properly treated, the Columbia River and surrounding communities could be compromised. In 2010, a URS Corp…. Read More