Author: Kara Cogswell Kidder
New Washington Board Decision Addresses Closure of Claims When Worker Deceased
The Washington Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals recently designated a new significant decision addressing the situation where a worker dies for unrelated reasons with an…
Washington Court of Appeals Issues New Decision Which Defines Reasonable Accommodations of Religious Beliefs – and Raises New Questions For Employers
The Washington Court of Appeals, Division 3, issued a decision on September 20, 2022 defining for the first time what is a “reasonable accommodation” of…
Ninth Circuit Agrees Temporary Impairments Can Be Disabilities Under ADA
A recent decision by the Ninth Circuit confirms that temporary medical conditions can qualify as disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The outcome…
Sixth Circuit Upholds Vaccine Mandate for Large Employers
Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit lifted a stay by the Fifth Circuit on President Biden’s federal vaccine mandate…
Board’s 2020 Significant Decisions Include Two of Interest to First Responder Employers
The Washington Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals recently published its list of Significant Decisions for 2020. Per WAC 263-12-194, these are decisions which the Board…
Washington L&I Updates Guidance on Out-of-State Travel for IMEs
For employers with Washington claims involving individuals who have moved out of state, the pandemic has made it very difficult to obtain independent medical examinations….
New Year, New Restrictions On IMEs in Washington
New Year, New Restrictions On IMEs in Washington With the new year, comes new restrictions on independent medical examinations in Washington. On January 1, legislative…
Washington Self-Insured Employers Face Increased Penalty Amounts Starting September 1
Self-insured employers in Washington should be aware that penalty amounts increase on September 1, 2020, as a result of HB 2409, passed earlier this year….
L&I Offers Some Guidance on Active Retraining Plans through Office Careers as Moratorium On New Plans Remains in Place
In early March, the Washington Department of Labor of Industries announced a moratorium on approval of new vocational plans that include retraining by Office Careers….
Final Rules Issued for Oregon Equal Pay Law Effective January 1, 2019
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) recently issued final rules implementing the Oregon Equal Pay Law, most provisions of which take effect on January…
BOLI issues proposed rules for Equal Pay Law
The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries (“BOLI”) recently issued proposed rules implementing the Oregon Equal Pay Law, most provisions of which take effect on January…
