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The NLRB ruling and the changing nature of employment

In response to last week’s National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) 3-2 decision to change the joint-employer standard (which I briefly noted here), the Wall Street Journal editorial board writes that it “radically rewrites U.S. labor law and upends thousands of business relationships.” The majority’s goal in so doing is “to best serve the Federal policy […]

Employment policy links: NLRB decision, occupational disease, minimum wage

Today the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) “refined its standard for determining joint-employer status.” It ruled, 3-2, that Browning-Ferris Industries was a joint employer with its contractor Leadpoint. The NLRB said, With more than 2.87 million of the nation’s workers employed through temporary agencies in August 2014, the Board held that its previous joint employer […]

InFocus: SeaTac minimum wage ruling, State employment report

Will Sea-Tac wage increase be retroactive?

As I wrote yesterday, the state Supreme Court has ruled that SeaTac’s Proposition 1, which increased the minimum wage for certain workers (among other things), is applicable to workers at Sea-Tac airport. The measure went into effect Jan. 1, 2014. Does the ruling apply retroactively? The Seattle Times reports that the answer to that is […]

WA Supreme Court: Prop. 1's $15 minimum wage and other labor provisions apply at Sea-Tac airport

This morning the state Supreme Court ruled (5-4) that SeaTac’s Proposition 1 applies to Sea-Tac airport. Prop. 1 was approved by voters in SeaTac in 2013. It established a $15 minimum wage and paid sick leave benefits for certain hospitality, transportation, and airport workers. It also imposed restrictions on employers’ labor practices. (Here is our […]

InFocus Podcast: State revenue collections up, Workers' comp costs still highest in nation

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 […]

InFocus: U.S. employment report, Portland's port troubles

InFocus: Colorado tax limit court case, health exchange funding, Puget Sound manufacturing jobs

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 […]