Even as some states limit employers’ use of the federal E-Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of new hires, a recent study shows low compliance rates in states where employers are legally mandated to use E-Verify. If accessibility is a factor, employers may soon have a new tool to make compliance easier. Last week, Read more
The “Fight for 15” movement, which aims at raising the minimum wage rate to $15.00 per hour for low wage workers, continues to gain momentum across the country. This month, the District of Columbia joined the conversation with the introduction of new legislation that would increase the minimum wage in the District to $15.00 per Read more
Oregon employers are accustomed to an annual increase in the state’s minimum wage rate because of the adjustment made for inflation each January 1. This year was different. For the first time in recent history, Oregon’s minimum wage did not increase on January 1. Instead, Governor Kate Brown signed into law a bill increasing the Read more
Under California law, workers covered by State Disability Insurance (SDI) have two benefits available to them: Disability Insurance (DI) and Paid Family Leave (PFL). These programs provide short-term partial wage replacement benefits to workers when they need to take time off for themselves or to care for a family member. Currently, workers can receive 55 Read more
Thanks to a new California Law, California minimum wage workers will soon see an increase in their paychecks. The new minimum wage law also puts California in place with the highest statewide minimum wage rate in the nation – $15.00 per hour. The minimum wage rate high will take several years to realize and may Read more
Seattle 4-In-One “Workplace Poster” Late last year, the City of Seattle, Washington conducted an overhaul of its labor laws, enhancing employee protections and standardizing employer compliance requirements with the passage of Ordinance 124960. The changes affect the way employers must administer their workplace policies and procedures and provide greater protection to applicants and employees that Read more
Washington Unemployment Benefits Washington State requires employers responsible for unemployment insurance coverage of their employees to post the mandatory Unemployment Benefits poster. The notice has several important changes that affect applicant eligibility and application procedures. This includes: Applicants must be able to provide employer history for the last 18 months Applicants that were in the Read more
Last year, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) updated the rules for reporting severe injuries and illnesses. The federal rules require employers to report all in-patient hospitalizations, amputations, and losses of an eye to OSHA within 24 hours of learning about it. By law, the states that operate under OSHA-approved State Plans are Read more
On January 1, 2017, Vermont will become the fifth state to require employers to provide employees with paid sick leave, following Connecticut, California, Massachusetts, and Oregon. Vermont ‘s paid sick leave law will eventually provide employees with five days (40 hours) of paid sick leave per year, but employers will have plenty of time to prepare Read more
California’s Fair Employment and Housing Council has issued proposed regulations on the use of criminal history information in making employment decisions and is giving the interested public until April 7, 2016 to give their feedback. Presently, California law (Labor Code §§432.7, 432.8) prohibits an employer from asking about or considering the following types of criminal Read more
