Stay current with changing wage and hour laws

If you are starting a business that will require employees or you’re in business and ready to hire your first employee, it’s time to get up to speed on Washington’s wage and hour laws. 

Ensuring your business complies with these laws can avoid headaches later when you have to spend time and money to undo a mistake, which especially hurts when you didn’t realize you had made an error in the first place. 

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) ensures businesses comply with state wage and hour laws. The agency also has a team of Small Business Office liaisons who work with business owners and managers to answer questions and provide guidance before a problem ever arises.

Some common areas where L&I often sees compliance missteps include:
•    Identifying who can be considered an independent contractor, often called a 1099 employee
•    Correctly determining who can be considered overtime exempt
•    Identifying who qualifies as an employee covered by L&I
•    Complying with paid sick leave requirements

And as regulations change and evolve, it’s important for all employers to know what new requirements might apply to their business. New laws effective Jan. 1, 2025 include changes to the minimum wage, new minimum rates for rideshare drivers, non-compete agreements, paid sick leave and employer reimbursements for Stay at Work and Preferred Worker programs.

If you are a new business owner or a seasoned owner looking for a refresher course on wage and hour laws, join EDASC online for “Wage & Hour Laws 101” presented by L&I Assistant Small Business Liaison Maggie Hammond. She will present essential L&I topics important to business owners as well as the new wage information for 2025, followed by a Q&A session. 

The presentation takes place on March 18 at 9 a.m. Click here to register for this no-cost online workshop.