Oregon Governor John Fitzahaber has been working with leaders from both the business and labor communities to find a compromise measure on tax increases that might be palatable to the public. However, in a move that has elicited strong reactions from both business and labor groups, a union-backed organization called Our Oregon recently proposed ballot… 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.
Seattle Has Nation's Largest Gender Pay Gap
The pay gap between men and women is wider in Settle than any other major city, according to a recent report by the National Partnership for National Partnership for Women and Families and Families. More specifically, full-time employed Seattle women make a mere 73 cents for every dollar her male counterpart makes. It may be… Read More
Community Radio Station Involved in Labor Dispute
When most people hear the term “labor dispute” they normally picture a large corporation with several layers of disconnected managers and unfeeling personnel policies. While there are many – too many – cases of this sort, even small, seemingly labor-friendly nonprofit organizations can become embroiled in employment rights disputes. Nonprofit Radio Station Tries to Streamline… Read More
What is Differential Treatment?
Different is good, right? Well, sometimes. In a Washington employment law context, different is not usually a good thing. Different is an adjective most often used to show how certain employees are being treated differently because of something he or she cannot change about themselves. What the term differential treatment is really getting at is… Read More
Understanding Washington Disability Discrimination
Not hired for a position because of a disability?Fired from a job because of a disability? Passed up for a promotion or raise at work because of a disability? Those are just a few general examples of how Washington disability discrimination can manifest itself in the workplace. And unfortunately, this type of discrimination happens more… Read More
A Look At The Working Families Flexibility Act
233-204. That was the final tally that passed the Working Families Flexibility Act in the House of Representatives. The Working Families Flexibility Act would touch private-sector Washington state employees as well as private-sector employees nationwide. The crux of the Republican-backed bill is fairly simple: employees would be able to receive “comp” time instead of overtime… Read More
Oregon Officer Claims Firing Him Violates the ADA
It seems that a recent spate of employees, fired because of their use of controlled substances, have been finding novel methods of challenging their dismissals. First was Brian Milam, the Washington pilot who fought to be reinstated at his job after failing a random drug test and admitting to having used marijuana regularly. Now, an… Read More
Are You Being Asked Legal Questions In An Interview?
Did you know you have legal protections in place even before you interview for a job in Washington? Well you do and you should know them before your next job interview to ensure that your rights are not being violated. Oh, and might we add these rights exist whether or not you get the job…. Read More
Exempt or Nonexempt, Why Does It Matter?
What type of employee are you? One that logs every hour of the week or one that has an annual salary? To many Washington employees, his or her classification as exempt or nonexempt may seem like a HR technicality and consequently they pay very little mind to it. The truth is that your employee classification… Read More
Washington Harassment Lawsuit Dismissed
As we discussed previously, Evans Fruit Co, a Yakima-based fruit company has recently been faced with not one but two lawsuits filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of the company’s current and former orchard workers. The first suit dealt with sexual harassment claims, the second suit alleged retaliation. Both of… Read More