On March 23, 2023, Washington State enacted ESHB 1155, banning virtually all noncompetition covenants effective June 30, 2027. This law eliminates previous regulations, affecting all workers, including physicians, while allowing certain exceptions for educational expenses and business sales. Employers must notify affected individuals by October 2027.
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Employers face ongoing challenges in handling discrimination and harassment investigations. Key issues include managing retaliation concerns from witnesses, addressing the presence of represented parties, and ensuring effective communication with impacted employees. Properly conducted investigations are essential to sustain a compliant workplace and prevent costly claims and lawsuits.
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Retired attorney Michael Goldenkranz reflects on his maternal grandfather’s significant role in securing rights for union members, despite suffering personal and professional repercussions. Facing corruption within the painters’ union, he risked his livelihood and physical safety to confront the financial wrongdoing. His legal battle set a precedent for challenging union officials, leaving a lasting impact.
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The federal district court in Portland recently relied on a decision by its counterpart in Seattle to order the return of confidential documents taken by an executive that later surfaced in his subsequent claim against his former employer. In Wickersham v. Eastside Distilling, Inc., __ F. Supp.3d __, 2024 WL 455070 (D. Or. Jan. 25, […]
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In reaction to court cases that, in the eyes of lawmakers, interpreted the statute too narrowly, Washington’s Legislature passed a bill this year, SB 5935, to expand the application of the noncompetition statute. As background, prior to amendment, the 2020 law (Chapter 49.62 RCW on Noncompetition Covenants) provides that: The amendments effective June 6, 2024, […]
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Not since the dot-com bubble of the 90s has the technology sector undergone such a massive downsizing. Seemingly bulletproof tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft have collectively shed tens of thousands of jobs in recent months. For U.S. citizens, being laid off from a prestigious job in tech may present a challenge, but for the thousands of people whose employment and immigration status are fully entwined, losing a job can also mean losing a new home.
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Addressing some of the emerging issues regarding Emergency Paid Sick Leave, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Family First Coronavirus Response Act, the American Rescue Plan Act, and Paid Family and Medical Leave.
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n July 2018, the Seattle City Council passed an ordinance granting domestic workers—such as house cleaners, nannies, gardeners, and home attendants—basic worker rights that they have long been excluded from. This municipal ordinance has proven to be a model for other cities and will help shape the future of labor laws on a national scale.
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