Imagine if every day you went to work you felt like you were being treated unfairly because of something you couldn’t change about yourself. Or every time you did not get a job, you knew the reason was personal and out of your control. Workplace discrimination happens all the time and Washington employees are no… 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.
What It Means To Be An Independent Contractor
Full-time, part-time, contractor and consultant – Washington employees can take on a variety of work relationships. And with the growing employment diversity the state has been enjoying, this range will continue to grow. One thing that manyWashington employees may not realize is that their employment classification also comes with different legal implications. Two of the… Read More
Non-Compete Agreements: Protecting Employers or Punishing Employees?
The Oregonian recently reported that a former manager at the Oregon-based company, Electro Scientific Industries (ESI) has filed suit against his former company in the U.S. District Court of Oregon. Lynn Matthew Sheehan alleges that ESI attempted to block him from working at another laser company, and that he is entitled to at least $100,000… Read More
Court Finds For Apple Growing Company in Sexual Harassment and Retaliation Suits
A lawsuit by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against Evans Fruit, one of the largest apple growers in the United States, was recently dismissed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington. This dismissal, in conjunction with the EEOC’s loss of a related trial, has been a boon to Evans… Read More
Governor Announces a Plan to Help Integrate Disabled Oregonians into the General Workforce
As we discussed in our last post, the state of Oregon and Governor John Kitzhaber are facing a serious challenge to the state’s sheltered workshop system for disabled Oregonians. A class action lawsuit led by the organization Disability Rights Oregon (which the United States Department of Justice joined as a co-plaintiff at the beginning of… Read More
Federal Judge Refuses to Certify Class Claims against Comcast
Class action lawsuits – in which a large group of people sue a defendant claiming that each has been injured in some similar way – are often used a convenient way of settling many similar claims in one action, rather than clogging up the legal system with multiple, duplicative suits. However, one of the major… Read More
Pot-Smoking Pilot Fights to Keep His Job
An airline pilot fails his company’s random drug test and admits to using marijuana. His airline fires him. That seems simple enough, doesn’t it? The struggle between a Seattle-area pilot and airline company has recently shown that employment law is not always quite as simple as you might think. A recent article in the Seattle… Read More
Federal Government Claims that Oregon Segregates Disabled Individuals
Earlier this month, the Oregonian published an article reporting that the United States Department of Justice joined a lawsuit against Governor John Kitzhaber and the state of Oregon that demands changes to the state’s “sheltered workshop” system for individuals with severe disabilities. The fact that the Justice Department intervened as a plaintiff into the case… Read More
What Employers Need To Do To Hire Teenagers
Is your teen is looking for a part-time job? If so, what do you need to know about their future employer? Washington State requires employers of teenagers to satisfy certain requirements. It is important for you, the parent, to understand what an employer is required to do if they employ teenagers. Employer Requirements Any employer… Read More
Bullying in the Workplace – Harassment and Hostile Work Environments
Washington state has addressed bullying in schools. The law states that “‘harassment, intimidation, or bullying’ means any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated by any characteristic”. Washington State Statute 2A.300.285 So once you are out of school you never have to deal with bullies… Read More