Our Blog | Employment Counsel in WA, OR, and CA | Vigilant
Home » Blog

Vigilant Blog

News, trends and analysis in employment law, HR, safety & workers' comp

Showing all recent posts

Oct 21 2015
Safety and HealthWashington

Washington Employers: Safety & health poster has been updated

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is mailing an updated version of its mandatory safety and health poster to employers. The date shown in the bottom right-hand corner is “09/15.” You may also download an online copy. It must be displayed where employees can see it. For information about federal and state poster…

Read More
Oct 21 2015
Drug and AlcoholPrivacy & ConfidentialityQ&A

When is it okay to search an employee’s locker?

A: As long as you warn employees and have a legitimate business purpose, you may conduct searches of items and areas located on company property, including company-owned lockers. As an employer you must always show that your business needs justified your actions and how those needs outweighed an employee’s reasonable expectation of privacy. Before conducting…

Read More
Oct 20 2015
Wage and HourWashington

Washington Employers: You don’t have to “police” employee meal breaks

Washington employers can let out a collective sigh of relief due to a recent federal district court decision reaffirming that they are not required to “police” employee meal breaks to make sure employees are taking them. Employers are only required to give employees a meaningful opportunity to take the meal period. Washington’s meal period regulation…

Read More
Oct 15 2015
CaliforniaHarassment & DiscriminationLabor Relations

California Employers: More 2015 bills signed

Governor Jerry Brown has signed more bills from the 2015 California legislative session that affect employers, some of which are extremely significant. Unless otherwise indicated, these bills take effect on January 1, 2016. SB 358: The California Fair Pay Act dramatically expands the ability of workers to sue for sex discrimination in payment of wages….

Read More
Oct 13 2015
Termination & Resignation

Retaliation can apply to more than just work-related complaints

An employee’s report to police that a coworker stole her ring at work was protected and could not be used as the reason for her termination, ruled a California court of appeal. An employee received an expensive ring for her anniversary and consistently wore it to work, leaving it in a specific pocket on her…

Read More
Oct 08 2015
WashingtonWorkers’ Comp

Stay at Work reimbursement process changes coming to Washington in October.

The Washington Legislature is making it easier and faster for companies to apply for wage and other reimbursements online beginning in mid-October. This is an enhancement of the “Stay at Work Program” approved in 2011, which demonstrates the Legislature’s strong support for assisting employers in keeping their workers safe and healthy through early return to…

Read More
Sep 28 2015
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

5 Reasons to Offer Early Return-to-Work to Injured Employees

After a workers’ comp claim is filed, light and/or modified jobs for every employee injured is beneficial for 5 primary reasons. 1. Plain and simple: People, who return to work faster, get better faster. Study after study shows that work promotes the healing process. 2. Time loss benefits are the largest avoidable cost of a…

Read More
Sep 24 2015
Safety and HealthWashingtonWorkers’ Comp

WASHINGTON: L&I proposes 2016 workers’ comp rate increase

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has just announced a proposed 2% average base rate increase for 2016 workers’ compensation coverage. Proposed rates are based on several factors, including expected claim costs, the size of the contingency fund, and the inflation of wages. Of note, companies involved in miscellaneous wood products manufacturing…

Read More
Sep 21 2015
Labor RelationsQ&A

What rights extend to personal vehicles on company property?

Yes, in this situation you would be able to require the employee to remove the objectionable material from their personal vehicle, but you may not always have that right. The federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) gives employees the right to engage in concerted activity for mutual aid and protection related to wages, hours, and…

Read More
Sep 15 2015
HiringQ&A

What should we do if an employee has missing I-94 information?

A: Don’t panic. The information is probably available online. The US Customs and Boarder Protection shifted Form I-94 to an electronic version in the last two years; the agency no longer issues paper forms. All travelers may access the I-94 Automation website at www.cbp.gov/i94 to retrieve an official I-94 printout. In your situation, ask your…

Read More
Sep 03 2015
Disability

No need to accommodate employee who threatened to kill co-workers

An employee who made serious and credible threats to kill his supervisor and manager was not a “qualified individual” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Oregon’s disability discrimination statute according to the 9th Circuit Court. The employee threatened to “blow off the head” of the supervisor to one coworker, said he planned to…

Read More
Aug 24 2015
Leave LawsTermination & Resignation

Attending church may be medically necessary

In an interesting twist, a welder has alleged that she was unable to work at all on Sundays in order to attend church and related social activities, but rather than requesting a religious accommodation she requested the time off under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA) in…

Read More

Is My Company Eligible?

If you are a manufacturing or agriculture employer in Washington and committed to keeping your employees safe and working, you may be eligible for Vigilant's workers' compensation Retro or claims management programs. To see if you qualify fill out our release form now, or contact us.

Release Form
Contact Us
Browse By Category
Browse By Topic
Filter By State
Get Our Newsletter
Sign Up Today
Connect With Us
Linkedin

Don’t Navigate Employment Issues On Your Own

Learn how Vigilant membership can help with your complex employment situations.
Get in Touch Today
Scroll to Top