New state minimum wage set at $15.74 for 2023
The state’s minimum wage will increase to $15.74 starting Jan. 1, 2023. The overtime thresholds will also increase to $57,293 for small employers and $65,478 for large employers. And don’t forget, also starting Jan. 1, most employers will need to include wage and salary information in job postings.
Employers required to include salary info in job postings starting Jan. 1, 2023
Over the last decade, we’ve seen several bills introduced by the Legislature to promote pay equity among workers. Most notably, the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act went into effect in 2018, which implemented a number of employee protections including a prohibition on...
5 things you need to know about California’s FAST Act
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Fast-Food Accountability and Standards Recovery Act (FAST Act) into law this week. Here’s what you need to know about this new law, its impact on California restaurants, and the prospects of similar legislation becoming law in Washington.
5 things you need to know before applying for your Working Washington 5 grant
The Working Washington Grants: Round 5 and Convention Center Grant Programs will begin accepting applications on Aug. 17. Here are five details you need to know before you apply for these latest grants. Be sure to check out our Financial Relief toolkit and visit...
Help Seattle restaurants survive: Fix delivery-fee cap at 15%
By Steve Hooper Special to The Times Your favorite neighborhood restaurant has been through a lot during the pandemic — and most are nowhere near out of the woods. Remember those on and off and on-again indoor dining bans? They succeeded in keeping customers away from...
Tukwila minimum wage initiative qualifies for November ballot
An initiative sponsored by Raise the Wage Tukwila, received enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The initiative will now be considered by the Tukwila City Council meeting on July 11 where the council can adopt the initiative as written or place it on the November ballot. Final action will take place at the July 18 council meeting.
Bellingham single-use plastics ordinance takes effect July 31.
Bellingham’s single-use plastics ordinance (Ordinance 2021-05-023) passed in May of 2021 takes effect July 31. Most single use plastics such as utensils, small shampoo bottles, etc., will no longer be allowed in food establishments, grocery stores and lodging...
LCB extends expiration dates for temporary allowances
During the pandemic, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) enacted temporary allowances that allow liquor license holders to rent their kitchens and expand allowable job duties for some minor employees. These allowances have given small business owners...
$40 billion RRF bill fails in US Senate
In what is likely the last and best chance to secure additional relief from the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) this year, a vote on the Small Business COVID Relief Act of 2022 (S. 4008) failed to get the necessary 60 votes in the U.S. Senate today (52-43) to...
EIDL program exhausts funding
Late last week, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced they had exhausted the remaining COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) funds. This is disappointing news to say the least, especially for those members who submitted applications that have...