Gainey Law, PLLC Seattle Employment Law Attorney

Whether your safety concerns arise out of the Coronavirus / Covid-19 pandemic or other safety violations at work, you need to proceed with caution both to protect your health and safety but also your continued employment. FEDERAL WORKERS: The Department of Occupational Safety and Health advice: If my workplace is unsafe, what can I do? If you believe working conditions are unsafe or unhealthful, we recommend that you bring the conditions to your employer's attention. At any time, a worker may file a complaint with OSHA to report a hazardous working condition and request an inspection. If the condition clearly presents a risk of death or serious physical harm and there is not enough time for OSHA to inspect, the worker may have a legal right to refuse to work. File a complaint  here. More Information  OSHA  File a Complaint . OSHA COVID-19 Guidelines Washington Workers: Contact the Department of Labor and Industry for information about Was...

If you are a worker and your employer owes you unpaid wages you can file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Industry Dear Washington State Employers, Please take a deep breath and assess your options before laying off or terminating workers right now. The CARES Act that just passed will provide "loans" to businesses with employees who retain those employees. The loans may be forgiven for employers who retain staff over a period of time. If you do lay off or fire your staff - pay them what you owe them . That is still the law. Paycheck Protection Program The Paycheck Protection Program, one of the largest sections of the CARES Act, is the most important provision in the new stimulus bill for most small businesses. This new program sets aside $350 billion in government-backed loans from private banks that can, in some cases, be converted to grants, which means that if you meet the requirements you won't need to pay the loan back. H...