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For Washington employers, meal and rest break class actions continue to be one of the most active areas of wage and hour litigation. Despite years of litigation and recurring lawsuits challenging break practices across industries, there has been little indication that the Washington Legislature intends to revisit or modernize the state’s meal and rest break framework. As a result, employers remain subject to a regulatory scheme that is both highly technical and frequently litigated, creating ongoing exposure for large employers with hourly, non-exempt workforces.…

Continue Reading Washington Meal and Rest Break Class Actions Continue Unabated: What Employers Should Be Doing Now

Two new Idaho laws may affect businesses’ relationships with independent contractors and their management of public-facing restrooms. Employers should review existing policies and practices to determine whether updates are needed.

Independent Contractor Benefits

Effective July 1, 2026, Idaho’s new Portable Benefit Plan Act establishes a voluntary framework that allows businesses to contribute to portable benefit…

As they prepare for July payroll, employers should keep in mind that increased minimum wage rates take effect July 1, 2026.  These increases continue Oregon’s system of geographically tiered wages adjusted annually for inflation.

Oregon maintains a three-tier minimum wage structure based on where employees perform their work (as opposed to where the company is…

UPDATE AS OF 3/24/2026: This week, Governor Bob Ferguson signed HB 1155 into law, effectively banning workplace noncompete agreements and redefining permissible nonsolicitation agreements. The law takes effect on June 30, 2027. While its effective date is more than a year away, employers should begin preparing to adjust their policies and procedures accordingly. Once effective…

Oregon’s 2026 short legislative session is underway, and a few proposed bills could affect employers of all shapes and sizes.  Although short sessions move quickly, they often include important policy changes, particularly in the labor and employment space.  Below is an overview of three bills that Oregon employers should monitor closely. 

HB 4089 – Criminal …

California’s leave and benefits landscape continues to expand with revised paid sick leave rules, upcoming changes to paid family leave, and broader personnel file access requirements. Employers must understand these changes to avoid disputes and maintain compliant practices.

Here is what you need to know.

Paid Sick Leave Expansion

California’s paid sick leave law now…

Through new legislation and shifting enforcement priorities, California continues to challenge common workplace practices, including collectible wage judgments and binding employment agreements. Employers must understand how new rules on wage judgment penalties, stay-or-pay provisions, and arbitration agreements affect risk and strategy.

Below is what employers need to know for 2026.

Wage Judgment Enforcement Is Getting…

California continues to push pay transparency further into the mainstream of employment law. Employers with 15 or more employees now face more detailed requirements for posting wage ranges and reporting pay data. Penalties for missing or incomplete information have increased, and misunderstandings about these rules can lead to significant exposure.

Here is what every California…

Upcoming Webinar: New Year, New Laws – What Oregon Employers Need to Know for 2026 – February 4, 2026
As a new year gets underway, gain a clear understanding of the employment law changes Oregon employers need to know. Join Stoel Rives labor and employment attorneys Melissa Healy, Matt Tellam, and Megan Bradford…