August 12 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Washington still has the nation's highest workers' compensation benefits costs
According to the National Academy of Social Insurance’s annual workers’ compensation report (released today), Washington has the nation’s highest benefits costs yet again. For 2013 (the data covered in this report), Washington’s benefits costs per covered worker were $826.94 (a slight decline over 2012). Alaska is the next highest ($808.43), followed by California ($799.25). When […]
August 10 , 2015 - Mary Strow
August 04 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 22 , 2015 - Mary Strow
InFocus: Employment numbers, I-1366, Legislature's McCleary report (July 21, 2015)
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/215936923” params=”color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /] Today we’re talking about the June state employment report, Initiative 1366 (requiring the legislature to submit for voter approval a constitutional amendment requiring 2/3 legislative approval of tax increases), and lawmakers’ progress report to the state Supreme Court on the McCleary K-12 funding case. In this episode: June employment […]
July 17 , 2015 - Emily Makings
State Supreme Court: Washington employers have to pay piece-rate workers separately for breaks
Yesterday the state Supreme Court ruled that piece-rate workers must be paid separately for rest breaks. Further, such workers must be paid at least the minimum wage for the time spent on break, or their regular rate of pay, whichever is greater. Many agricultural workers are paid on a piece-rate basis (e.g., per bin of […]
July 15 , 2015 - Kriss Sjoblom
June employment report shows the state added 3,900 jobs May to June
The state Employment Security Department issued its employment report for June this morning. The preliminary estimate is that seasonally adjusted employment in Washington increased by 3,900 from May to June. The estimate of April to May job growth was revised down to a gain of 7,200 jobs from the gain of 7,700 jobs previously announced. […]
July 08 , 2015 - Mary Strow
July 07 , 2015 - Emily Makings
Links: Tax changes and employment policy
The Department of Revenue has a list of the tax changes that went into effect July 1 (the first day of fiscal year 2016). Those tax changes include the extension of sales and use tax exemptions for data centers. Data centers have a significant economic impact on communities in eastern Washington, and the exemptions matter […]
July 06 , 2015 - Emily Makings
How the drought could affect beer prices
The Puget Sound Business Journal’s current cover story is on how Washington’s drought is affecting craft breweries. (The story is behind the paywall.) The impact is most felt via the hops that are used in production. Demand is high for hops, and “demand plus drought is a costly combination.” Michael Butler, chairman and CEO of […]