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
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.
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
SeaTac Voters Could Establish Country's Highest Minimum Wage
This November, voters in the city of SeaTac could pass the SeaTac Good Jobs Initiative (“GJI”), which would establish the highest minimum wage in the country, according to an article from Seattle-based KOMO News Network. The SeaTac ballot initiative would establish a minimum wage of $15 per hour for certain employees at the Seattle-Tacoma International… Read More
Limitations and Protections for Whistleblowers Under the False Claims Act
Whistleblowers who expose government fraud under the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”) stand to receive awards from the government that can total millions of dollars. As we recently discussed, a former employee of a Tacoma medical provider received an award of $2.7 million from his whistleblower action, also known as a qui tam lawsuit. However,… Read More
Former Employee Sues Amazon Over Invention and Noncompetition Agreement
Seattle-based company Amazon is facing a lawsuit from a former employee who is fighting an employment agreement that gave the company ownership of his invention and included a noncompetition clause. According to GeekWire, Amazon recently gave the employee the rights to his patent, but it did not agree to stop using the employee’s invention. This… Read More
Specific Job Descriptions Can Help Avoid Discrimination Lawsuits
When an employee brings a discrimination lawsuit against his employer, the employee’s job description is one piece of evidence that Washington courts will consider. For that reason, well-written job descriptions can help employers defend themselves against discrimination claims. What Should a Job Description Contain? Employers should make sure that job descriptions include specific nondiscriminatory criteria… Read More
Bereavement Leave Soon Available for Some Oregon Employees
Losing a family member is one of the most difficult events a person may experience in their lives. The resulting grief can cause many mental or emotional issues, and may hinder a person’s ability to carry on as usual in his or her everyday life. Unfortunately, most employers, especially large companies and corporations, tend to… 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