Gainey Law, PLLC Seattle Employment Law Attorney

     Recently, I had the pleasure of reconnecting with Meredith Holley of Eris Conflict Resolution. Ms. Holley is a  Workplace conflict mediator, communication coach, lawyer, and bestselling author. Her book Career Defense 101 is a must read for any women striving to make it in the professional arena. Career Defense 101 .  She and I have a lot in common. We both live and work in the pacific northwest. Both are, or until recently were, plaintiff's employment lawyers working to uphold worker's rights. Both have been subject to workplace sexual harassment. In Ms. Holley's case she was able to address the sexual harasser in a way that allowed her to continue working with them safely for years afterward. She no longer litigates, but she does share her knowledge and skills to enable other workers to survive targeting, harassment, and other forms of hostile work environments without losing their professional momentum - or their minds!  A couple of weeks ago, I met...

October 2023 Book Review: Update on Dodd's Deposition Guide  Read the Review Here June 2022 Book Review: Damages Evolving : A collaboration by David Ball, Artemis Malekpour, Courtney Rowley, and Nicholas Rowley. WSAJ Trial News. Read The Review Here.   January 2021: Article: Corporate Accountability in the Age of COVID : Pandemic-weary jurors provide justice for plaintiffs while holding corporations accountable - WSAJ Trial News. Read the Article Here.  Corporate Accountability in the Age of COVID: Pandemic-weary jurors provide justice for plaintiffs while holding corporations accountable Publication Date:  January 2021 Volume:  56-5 Author:  Nicole Gainey Categories:  In the News, Asbestos, Product Liability, Verdicts & Settlements, Wrongful Death, COVID-19 It’s 1962. In Moses Lake, Washington, a ten-year-old boy named Ray Budd splashes water into a bucket of Kaiser-Gypsum joint compound (aka drywall "mud"). Dust fills the air as he mixes the comp...

On the this International Women's Day I honor the women who have been speaking truth to power all my life.      I was  a clueless youth when Hilary Clinton laid out the truth at the International Women's Conference in Beijing in 1995.   Watch the Speech  That quote, Women's Rights are Human Rights seemed like a "duh" moment, to my anti-establishment cynical younger self.  At the same time,  the chill that ran down my spine the first time I heard it also reminded me that it was a dangerous statement to proclaim publicly. That it was a politically dangerous thing to say. Proclaiming women as equal, and demanding our equal treatment, has always been risky business and it remains risky today. So many of the atrocities she catalogues are still very much entrenched in all of our global communities. I have to run but I will try to add to this post later today.... Stay strong. Nicole 

Here are there top questions of the week: My job is considered essential, but I have some health issues that put me at risk. Do I have to keep working? No. Even if your work is considered essential, you should not put yourself at risk. It’s preferable to stay attached to your employer if possible. Let your employer know that you cannot return until it is safe. Under new rules, you can qualify for unemployment benefits if you are at high risk and are staying home based on medical advice about the dangers related to that risk. File for unemployment and notify your employer when you can return.* Gainey Law Note: However, the risk must be to you personally the analysis may be different if the at risk person is a family member.  My employer has reduced my hours. Do I have to quit to get unemployment? You can apply for benefits and keep working if you were hired to work full time and have your hours temporarily reduced by less than 60 percent. Report the income earned ...

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1117118571999452&ref=watch_permalink The ESD system should be updated this Sunday. Get ready. Get your paystub, 1099 form or tax document ready to allow ESD to figure out how much is due to you. https://www.esd.wa.gov/ . BE PREPARED! Get your account set up and your paperwork in order so ESD can get you the benefits you need.

Click here to find out  How to set up your business with the different programs now being offered through the Employment Securities Department of Washington State (ESD).

GO to CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PAGE FOR INFO  and better formatting. Or see text below. There were many questions about providing health benefits to employees during this time. For most employer-sponsored plans, employees can continue to stay on employer-sponsored health insurance while on an unemployment program. This would fall under “NON-FMLA leave of absence”. It is a provision that would allow accommodations in this regard. Employers can self-manage/determine how they implement, but it would allow employers to decide to maintain eligibility. There also needs to be at least one active employee in the business at all times (which can be the owner). Most employer-sponsored programs can continue to cover employees. Most employer plans (including Business Health Trust) have non-FMLA Leave of Absence. This means, that employees can still participate and that employers have discretion in this. Check with your broker or health plan if you have more questions. Note the provision below: ...

As the Covid-19 corona virus virus continues to effect the Seattle area, King County and our entire region in dramatic ways , my law firm is beginning to get the first calls from people who have been fired or otherwise separated from their jobs because of the virus. It is often unclear if you have any legal protections or remedies in these situations without discussing what happened in detail with an attorney. So, the information here is not provided as legal advice, if you wish to find out more about your potential legal claims go here to share what has happened to you. We will get back to you as soon as we can. In the meantime,   I've put together a list to help employees connect with resources they may need right away. If you live in Seattle or Washington, or work for a Washington Company, and you or a family member is sick requiring you to stay home to care for yourself or that family member you may qualify for paid sick leave. See: Full Pamphlet PFSL.   If y...

Crosscut sits down with a group of Seattle change makers to discuss the movement

CBS sexual harassment news. IMHO, we are likely to hear more from this s till employed actor who seems to have no idea what is right and what is wrong. Weatherly told the Associated Press.   "Not to get into any of the ifs, ands or buts about what is right or wrong and where it comes from."  " Professionally I owe a great part of my career to the decision-making of the higher-ups at the company. It's a complicated place to be." What? Read more .

Don't Do it - Read More. "Women came into the company paid less than men, then they are ranked more harshly and, as a result, got smaller raises and bonuses. I think Nike wants to say that 'Just a couple people were responsible for the problem and we've gotten rid of them.' But we know that's certainly not the case."

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Find out about your rights:  Click here  #metoo #timesup

A gentle introduction to #metoo. "We all want respect, love and kindness..." Plus some levity.