Compliance Stuff

  States and cities are as busy as ever passing new workplace regulations throughout the calendar year. Here is our mid-year report summarizing the notable labor and employment laws that take effect from roughly July through October.  Washington Bill / Ordinance / Regulation Main Topic Summary Effective Date Washington Final Rule re Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (WAC 296-123)   Pay Equity Implements statutory amendments to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act that extend protections to additional protected classes; clarifies and implements the state's pay range disclosure requirements and salary history inquiry prohibition. 7/1/2025 Washington HB 1308   Personnel Files Requires employers to provide a copy of a personnel file to an employee or former employee upon request; defines “personnel file.” 7/27/2025 Washington HB 1395 (SB 5531)   Healthcare Background Checks Requires fingerprint-based background checks for certain long-term care workers in certain circu...

  Background check companies ("consumer reporting agencies") rely on searching indexes for criminal background checks in California state records and elsewhere. Effective February 23, 2024, Los Angeles County will no longer include even a partial date of birth (i.e. the month and year of birth) as criteria in its criminal name search engines. With that said, companies can expect both delays or “unperformable search” results, unless there is legislation to overcome the Court of appeal's opinion.   Source:  Littler , reported on February 23, 2024