For those who haven’t been following the polls for the recent November 5th election, despite a few ballots still left to count, it appears that SeaTac Proposition 1 (a measure to raise the minimum wage in SeaTac to $15/hr for hospitality and transportation workers in and around SeaTac Airport) will pass.
Employment
NLRB Back on the Move
Although much of the NLRB agenda has been thrown into question with the general belief that the Supreme Court will void President Obama’s NLRB recess appointments and thus the decisions made thereunder, expect that the Board will promptly revisit all of those rulings and reinstate them.
Supreme Court Watch – Fall Update
Despite the government shutdown, the Supreme Court of the United States is forging ahead with its schedule for the October 2013 term. The fall schedule of arguments carry a number of direct and potential impacts for employers.
Reclassification of Obesity Lends Weight to Federal Discrimination Lawsuits
In June 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) officially recognized obesity as a disease. Putting aside arguments within the medical community about the wisdom of classifying more than one-third of U.S. adults as ill, the AMA’s decision fuels legal arguments that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects obese individuals from discrimination based on their obesity.
US Supreme Court Rules on Same Sex Marriages
The rulings from the Supreme Court mean that same sex married couples in Washington will receive the same federal benefits as opposite sex married couples.
Employer Beware: NLRB Third Guidance Memorandum on Social Media
Over the past couple of years, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has been active in scrutinizing and striking down employers’ social media policies to determine if they violate union and non-union employees’ Section 7 rights to discuss wages and working conditions.
New Washington Law Tightens Social Media Privacy Rights for Employees and Job Applicants
Governor Inslee recently signed into law a bill tightening the social media privacy rights of employees and job applicants. The new law makes it unlawful for employers to require an individual to give access to his or her social networking account as a condition of employment
EEOC Issues Specific ADA Compliance Guidance
Both employers and employees often have questions as to how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) deals with everyday workplace situations. The EEOC recently issued guidelines as to four specific areas of disability that are frequently the subject of inquiry.
Employer Rights and Responsibilities Under New Seattle Ordinance Regarding Criminal Records
The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed Bill 117796 aka Job Assistance Bill regarding employment actions as to persons with criminal records. The Council sent the Bill to the Mayor for approval. Seattle based employers need to understand the impacts and responsibilities under the Bill.
Fifth Circuit Rules in Favor of the EEOC on Lactation
The Fifth Circuit recently ruled in the EEOC’s favor by determining that “lactation” (not necessarily breastfeeding) is a condition of pregnancy, and thus prevents employers from taking adverse action against a female employee because she is lactating. See EEOC v. Houston Funding II LLC, (No. 12-20220).