A Note from Small Biz Andrew
Toasty winter greetings, small business heroes!
The shortest day of the year is in our rear view mirror and we're illuminating a bright year ahead with our proverbial headlights. We hope that 2023 has been kind to you and your business, and that you never hesitate to reach out to the Small Business Office whenever you need our help. Now, there's a lot of winter still ahead, so get those snow chains ready as we drive over the pass into 2024.
Here are the topics we'll share in this edition of the Small Business Newsletter as we commute across the calendar together:
- Learn the new workplace regulatory changes for 2024.
- Gain a better understanding of the new paid sick leave requirements for the construction industry.
- Note that permanent wildfire smoke protections are going into effect soon.
- Explore upcoming conferences, helpful policy guidance, webinars, and more!
In my usual newsletter fashion, I can't let you take the 2023 exit before subjecting you to a dizzying roundabout of Business Jests, so buckle up for some wintry groans.
Wishing you and your businesses a very merry season!
Your friendly friend at L&I,
Andrew Bryan
Small Business Liaison
2024 Changes to Know
Quick reference guide for the things changing in 2024
Washington State Minimum Wage increases to $16.28 per hour
- Seattle Minimum Wage: $17.25 to $19.97 per hour ($17.25 for small business employers if employees receive $2.72 per hour in medical benefits or tips)
- SeaTac Minimum Wage: $19.71 per hour (Hospitality and Transportation Industry)
- Tukwila Minimum Wage:
- Large employers (500+ employees): $20.29 per hour
- Mid-Size employers (15 to 500 employees): $18.29 per hour ($19.29 per hour effective 7/1/2024)
Overtime
- All dairy and agricultural workers are eligible for overtime for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek
Salary Thresholds for Overtime-Exempt Workers
- Small and Large Employers: $67,724.80 per year ($1,302.40 per week)
Employment Restrictions
- Can't restrict outside employment or self-employment unless paid $32.56 per hour
Non-compete Agreement Thresholds (minimum earnings to enforce non-compete agreements)
- Employee earnings: $120,559.99
- Independent contractor earnings: $301,399.98
Minimum Pay for Rideshare Drivers
- Trips outside of Seattle: $0.38 per passenger platform minute and $1.31 per passenger platform mile, or $3.37, whichever is greater
- Trips within Seattle: $0.66 per passenger platform minute and $1.55 per passenger platform mile, or $5.81, whichever is greater
Paid Sick Leave Requirements for Construction Industry
- Certain construction workers that separate from employment before reaching 90 calendar days of employment must receive payout of paid sick leave accruals
Permanent Wildfire Smoke Rules go into effect Jan. 15, 2024 (See article below.)
Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #1
Why should you always visit your favorite small business jeweler on Dec. 31?
To ring in a new year.
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Learn the specifics on new and existing paid sick leave requirements
The “Paid Sick Leave Changes for the Construction Industry (5111)” webinar is a 60-minute presentation by the paid sick leave specialist from L&I’s Employment Standards Program, and includes the opportunity to ask questions during the presentation. "5111" refers to Senate Bill 5111, which passed last spring.
The webinar will cover:
- Payout of paid sick leave accruals for certain construction workers that separate from employment before reaching 90 calendar days of employment.
- Requirements for bargaining with unionized construction workers for pay out of paid sick leave accruals before usage.
- Review of general paid sick leave rule updates.
- Employer resources.
The schedule for this series is:
- Tuesday, Jan. 9, at 1:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 11, at 1:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 10 a.m.
- Thursday, Jan. 18, at 10 a.m.
When you register at LNI Workshops & Training Center, search for “Paid Sick Leave Changes for the Construction Industry (5111)” in the event title drop-down menu.
Once you register, you will receive information on how to access the webinar.
Interpretation services for these webinars are available at no cost to you when you request them ahead of time. Contact Luz Gonzalez-Virgen by email or call 360-789-5287 to request interpretation services.
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Time to Replace One of Your Required Workplace Posters
The mandatory Your Rights as a Worker (F700-074-000) poster was recently revised and needs to be replaced
One of the three posters that you are required to post in your workplace from Labor & Industries was updated. Please be sure to recycle your old copy and post the newly updated version.
You can download or request copies by visiting our website.
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Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #2
What was Dr. Frankenstein's New Year's resolution?
To make new friends.
Permanent Wildfire Smoke Rules Take Effect Jan. 15
WA joins CA and OR as the only states with permanent rules regulating outdoor workers' exposure to wildfire smoke
To protect workers from the dangers of breathing wildfire smoke, Labor & Industries has filed permanent wildfire smoke rules, which will take effect Jan. 15.
The rules require employers to be prepared for the impact wildfire smoke will have on their workers by:
- creating a response plan;
- providing training to employees;
- monitoring smoke levels;
- implementing a two-way communications system; and
- making sure employees have access to prompt medical attention.
Employers are also required to take specific action any time the amount of dangerous material in the air, known as particulate matter or current PM2.5, exceeds a certain level.
Please see the Wildfire Smoke page for more details and the full list of employer requirements.
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Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #3
What is the definition of a resolution?
Something that goes in one year and out the other.
16th Annual Construction Safety Day Returns March 27
Register now for the event in Puyallup
A construction worker's job remains one of the toughest and most dangerous around. The annual Construction Safety Day offers a variety of sessions focused on training and education relevant to the construction trade.
An annual highlight is the scholarship awarded to someone in pursuit of a career in workplace safety & health.
For more information on training, speakers, vendors, and how to register, visit the Governor's Industrial Safety and Health Advisory Board website.
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Tips...on Tips and Service Charges
New guidance helps make sense of tips, gratuities, and service charges
Employers seeking guidance on tips, gratuities, and service charges will want to check out L&I's new administrative policy on the subject. The new policy provides examples of various scenarios explaining topics such as:
- Tip pools
- Joint employers
- Training periods
For more information or language access services, send an email to the Employment Standards Program.
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Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #4
Every New Year's Eve, I look forward to a great show in Times Square.
And year after year, they drop the ball.
Contractors: Avoid Being Scammed
Construction contractors have been the target of a registration renewal scam
Construction contractors report that imposters are trying to fool them into paying $50 to renew their contractor registration. It’s a scam.
L&I does not call contractors to demand they pay registration fees over the phone. The fraudsters claim to be from the “state of Washington"; then imply that the contractors’ registration is suspended and that they must pay $50 to get their license reinstated.
One customer told L&I he got an email with the same demand. Contractor Registration has received reports of this scam for several weeks.
If you receive a call that appears to be a scam, you can:
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Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #5
I always begin making breakfast at 11:58 p.m. on Dec. 31.
I insist on starting the new year with a toast.
1st Quarter Webinars for Small Businesses
L&I Essentials for Business webinars cover:
- essentials about workers' compensation, quarterly reporting, what to do if your employee is injured, workplace safety and health requirements, wage and hour laws, and contractor registration rules;
- how to access a range of L&I resources and services designed to help your business save time and money; and
- various ways L&I partners with you to keep your workforce safe and healthy.
Upcoming monthly 80-minute L&I Essentials for Business Webinars will be held on the following dates:
Webinars are also available in Spanish (Fundamentos de L&I para negocios - Talleres en línea):
Other L&I Webinars for Employers
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Small Biz Andrew's Business Jests #6
As midnight struck on New Year's Eve, Dracula was seen sound asleep on the couch.
Witnesses reported a count down.
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