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Expose Yourself to Art . . . and New Taxes
Enhanced access to the arts is hardly a controversial proposal. So it should come as no surprise that a ballot measure purporting to provide just that was passed in the 2012 Portland general election with 62 percent of voters' support (the "Arts Tax"...
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MULTE Program Expands in Scope
The push for affordable housing in Portland is not new. Floods of new residents from out of state have caused gentrification of historic neighborhoods and skyrocketing rents, making it extremely difficult to find close-in affordable housing. The Mult...
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A Potpourri of New Restrictions and Requirements for Washington Employers
Washington employers may have to revise job applications, add protected categories to their policies against discrimination, provide “safety accommodations” to victims of domestic violence, and make other changes to comply with various bills that pas...
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Inslee Signs “#MeToo”/“#TheyKnew” Trilogy of Bills: It Will Be Harder for WA Employers to Keep Harassment Allegations Secret
The #MeToo/#TheyKnew era began in October 2017 with multiple revelations about Harvey Weinstein’s sexual harassment and assaults of various actresses. Those revelations were followed by the revelation that his predatory conduct was an “open secret” w...
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2018 Washington Gender Equal Pay Act Amendments: Same Pay for "Similar" Jobs
Although Washington has prohibited all employers from paying men and women differently for the same work since 1943, this year the Washington legislature amended the state Equal Pay Act (EPA)—effective June 7, 2018—to combat what it sees as persisten...
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March 1 Deadline for Notification to Existing Employees About Their New Washington Paid Sick Leave Rights
This Thursday—March 1—is the deadline for Washington employers to provide notice to current employees about their new paid sick leave rights under Washington’s paid sick leave law.
On January 1, 2018, Washington’s paid sick leave law—adopted by Wash...
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