StokesLaw™ Briefs

Nonproductive time, such as break time for piece-rate workers and travel time, is getting increased scrutiny from Washington employees, employers and courts. Aviva Kamm explains the guidelines for when employees should be paid and provides practical tips for employers.

The Washington Supreme Court issued a ruling in Demetrio v. Sakuma requiring employers to provide paid rest breaks to piece rate workers. This ruling has enormous implications on the wage and rest break practices of all employers with employees paid by the piece or by production and take effect immediately.

This week the U.S. Department of Labor issued proposed regulations that would broaden overtime pay to raise the minimum salary threshold required to qualify for the Fair Labor Standards Act's "white collar" exemption to $50,440 per year, with the anticipated result of making nearly 5 million more people eligible for overtime who are currently exempt.

Large retail chains and financial institutions are not the only entities at risk when it comes to data breaches; small businesses are just as vulnerable to large-scale security breaches of their information technology systems. Olivia Gonzalez explains a business' requirements under Washington's updated data breach notification law.

Tom Lerner discusses the policy considerations and effects of physician noncompete restrictions, including legislation considered this session that would have limited their enforcement.

The Department of Justice considers websites places of public accommodation and has shown an increasing interest in ensuring that goods and services offered online are equally accessible to persons with disabilities. Krista Nelson and Aviva Kamm suggest steps that companies can take to make their sites more accessible.