The recent Supreme Court decision striking down key provisions of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) may signal a new era for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender (LGBT) rights in the Unites States. That decision held that the provision of the law defining marriage as the “union between one man and one woman” for the… 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.
Are Seattle Employers Ignoring the City's Sick Leave Law?
A recent University of Washington study shows that many Seattle employers do not comply with the city’s sick leave ordinance. According to the study, which surveyed over 1400 employers, 27.1% of employers do not offer their employees paid sick leave or any kind of paid time off. The study also showed that almost 40% of… Read More
What Constitutes Disability Discrimination?
Discrimination in the workplace is a pervasive issue in the United States, and the problem includes discrimination against people with disabilities. Both state and federal law prohibit employers from discriminating against employees that have disabilities, and require that employers provide “reasonable accommodation” for such employees. The federal law prohibiting discrimination against disabled employees is the… Read More
Whistleblower Collects $2.7 Million for Exposing Employer's Fraud
Craig Thomas, a former employee of Tacoma-based Sound Inpatient Physicians, Inc., will receive $2.7 million of a $14.5 million settlement in a whistleblower lawsuit under the federal False Claims Act (“FCA”). The Puget Sound Business Journal reports that Sound agreed to pay the sum to the United States government to settle claims that Sound had… Read More
Oregon Man Suing DOJ for Sex Discrimination
In Oregon, state law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, or age. One particularly pervasive form of discrimination occurs when a person is subjected to sexual harassment in the workplace. Such harassment could take the form of inappropriate comments, touching, advances, or communications between employees… Read More
Are Employee Handbooks Binding Employment Agreements?
Many newly-hired employees receive a handbook that can cover everything from dress code and leave policies to employees’ rights under Washington law. Employee handbooks can be an effective way for employers to communicate their workplace policies. However, they also can cause legal issues for both employers and employees. One of the most important issues is… 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 Agricultural Workers Settle Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Lawsuit
Five workers from a farm in Lind, Washington agreed to a $650,000 settlement with National Food Corporation for their sexual harassment and retaliation claims. An article in the Seattle Times reports that the workers were sexually harassed by their supervisor and then fired when they reported the harassment up the chain of command. The workers’… 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
Discrimination for English as a Second Language
It is well-known in places of employment that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of race, color, religion, sex and national origin. However, employers sometimes do not realize that their behavior actually constitutes discrimination under Title VII. One common example is when an… Read More