In a landmark decision, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a final rule that will ban noncompete clauses nationwide, effective September 4, 2024. This ruling represents a significant shift in employment law and has far-reaching implications for both employers and employees across various industries. Overview of the FTC’s Final Rule The FTC’s decision to ban […]
Paid Family Leave Act
Hopefully this new act and tax does not come as a surprise, as we’ve received many notices from Washington State explaining the new system. In short, WA has enacted a program that will provide Paid Leave to employees–under broad conditions similar to FMLA leave. Employers and Employees should be aware that the taxing portion of […]
Arbitration Clauses in Employment Contracts
A standard provision in employment contracts for some time has been an “Arbitration Clause.” This clause sweeps almost all employment disputes into private arbitration. New to Washington State from 2018 is RCW 49.44.085, which prohibits Arbitration Clauses in certain employment related claims (discrimination, harassment, etc.). Though this law will likely be tested against current Federal […]
What to Know When Hiring a Nanny
As childcare for newborns and young children becomes more expensive families may find they can hire a nanny (or nanny share) for a comparable cost as daycare. Parts of a nanny or nanny share are very convenient – location, child to caretaker ratio, no stressful waiting list etc. However, the paperwork involved in hiring a […]
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc.
Back in 2008, Samantha Elauf, a young Muslim woman, applied for a sales floor position at clothing store Abercrombie & Fitch. As part of her religious practice, she wore her headscarf to the interview. Throughout the interview process she performed well and received high remarks. However, her headscarf violated the clothing retailer’s “preppy” Look Policy, […]
Young vs. United Parcel Service, Inc.
For those following employment discrimination news – no this is not about Ellen Pao – on March 25, 2015 SCOTUS decided Young vs. United Parcel Service (UPS). I would describe this result as “expected”, but the clarification from the Court makes an employment attorneys’ advice that much more precise; which is welcome. A little background: […]
Tipping in Washington State: FAQ for the Employer and Employee
I frequently receive questions about tipping from small business or restaurant owners and employees. The purpose of this article is to provide initial answers to a couple of common questions. As always, this is not intended to be legal advice and context is everything. If you have questions specific to your situation you should consult with […]
What an Employer Needs to Know When Creating an Employee Manual
What is an Employee Manual? In Washington State it almost certainly is not a contract or agreement to change the at-will nature of your employment. It is a guide for Employees to understand Company policies. It is a guide for Employers to understand their obligations under the law, and to establish policies and goals in […]