Blog

As an HR professional, I spent years working my tail off to prove my value, prove that HR was an important department, prove that HR was needed. I was probably about 10-15 years into my HR career before I had a light bulb moment that changed the way I viewed my role as an HR professional. I was at a SHRM conference...

Cold weather can be more than uncomfortable; prolonged exposure can lead to severe illness. As the darker, wet, and often chilly months approach in the Pacific Northwest, employers should be aware that employees working outside in cold temperatures for prolonged periods are at risk of cold stress. Employees and...

Employers in Washington have two options for workers’ compensation insurance—they can either be self-insured or purchase their insurance from the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Most employers purchase their insurance from the state, paying their insurance premiums quarterly to L&I. Insurance rates are...

As we near the end of the year and employers check what policies and practices might need to be added, amended, or clarified, they often overlook their e-signature policy. With the rise in digitalization of onboarding documents and remote work, many employers rely on electronic signatures, or e-signatures, when...

Do your employees work from heights in the state of Washington? If so, you may need to brush up on the Washington Labor and Industries’ (L&I) updated Unified Fall Protection rule, WAC 296-880. L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) updated the Unified Fall Protection rule because they received...

The fall and winter holiday season can be a special time for many. People often look forward to the food, music, decorations, and gathering with family and friends. However, when it comes to holidays in the workplace, there are some pitfalls that employers should be careful to avoid.

Despite employers’ best efforts to ensure safe working conditions for employees, workplace injuries can still happen, which are hard for everyone involved. Injured workers often worry about their recovery and potential financial hardships if they cannot work due to their injury. Employers may be concerned about the...

Before 2020, many employers reserved remote work for only rare or occasional circumstances. When COVID-19 hit, remote work became, in many ways, the most critical policy in HR’s arsenal for keeping their organizations from failing. Even as employees have started returning to work, COVID and the economic forces...

Oregon is preparing to roll out its much-anticipated paid family and medical leave program called Paid Leave Oregon. The program, which was delayed for a year partially due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will require employee and employer contributions to start on January 1, 2023. Employees can apply for benefits...

After vowing to be the most pro-union president in history, President Biden took steps literally from day one to achieve that goal. On his inauguration day, President Biden called for the resignation of the Trump-appointed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel and later appointed former union...