Tag: compliance
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Are You Registered to Hire Remote Workers in Washington?
An out-of-state company hires a software developer who lives in Washington and works from home. Does that single remote employee hire mean the company is doing business in Washington? Must it register with the Secretary of State? However, as of 2026, the Legislature answered the Remote employee registration portion. It left the tax half open.…
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Noncompetes Were Already Getting Harder to Enforce: David v. Freedom Vans
Washington’s 2026 ban on noncompetes did not come out of nowhere. Even before it passed, Washington courts and the 2019 noncompete statute were steadily narrowing what employers could enforce. The Washington Supreme Court’s 2025 decision in David v. Freedom Vans, 4 Wash.3d 242 (2025) (En Banc) is a useful marker of that trend—and a preview…
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What Still Works After the Noncompete Ban: Nonsolicitation, Confidentiality, and the Sale-of-Business Exception
Washington’s ban on noncompetes (Chapter 149, Laws of 2026) does not leave employers with nothing. It preserves a short, narrowly drawn set of protections. The catch is that each one is defined tightly, and the statute tells courts to construe these exceptions narrowly. Here is what survives after June 30, 2027—and where the traps are.…
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Washington Just Voided Almost Every Noncompete Agreement
Washington has taken its 2019 restrictions on noncompetes to their logical conclusion: a near-total ban. Under ESHB 1155 (Chapter 149, Laws of 2026), signed March 23, 2026 and effective June 30, 2027, virtually every noncompetition covenant with a Washington worker becomes void and unenforceable. This is one of the most significant changes to Washington employment…
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The Noncompete Notice Cliff – Don’t Fall October 1, 2027
Washington’s non-compete ban comes with an affirmative duty most employers have not yet put on the calendar. It is not enough to stop enforcing noncompetes—by a fixed date, employers must proactively tell affected workers that their covenants are dead. The requirement The enacted law, amending chapter 49.62 RCW, provides that by October 1, 2027, an…
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Washington’s 2027 Paid Leave Premium Update
Alongside the minimum wage, the other year-end number Washington employers need is the Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) premium rate. The Employment Security Department (ESD) resets it annually, and the 2027 rate will be announced later this fall. How the premium is set PFML is funded by a premium assessed on employee wages up…
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Washington Employers Get New I-9 Inspection Notice Duties
Washington enacted a new Immigrant Worker Protection Act this year, and its employer-facing duties are scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026. The law was passed as 2SHB 2105 (Chapter 240, Laws of 2026), a bill requested by the Attorney General. What makes it worth flagging now is that it applies to essentially every…
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Legal Update: Washington Commercial Electronic Mail Act
Washington has amended its Commercial Electronic Mail Act (CEMA) for the first time since the statute was enacted in 1998. The changes—passed as Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2274 and now in effect—add a knowledge requirement for misleading subject-line claims and cut one category of statutory damages from $500 to $100. They apply to lawsuits filed…
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What Washington’s Montes Decision Means for False-Discount Pricing Claims
The Washington Supreme Court ruled that a false “sale” price alone does not constitute “business or property” injury under the state’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA) if the item is worth what the consumer paid. Key takeaway: The decision likely narrows some Washington false-discount cases, but it is not a green light for careless pricing. Businesses…
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Hidden Risk: Personal Liability When Your Trade Name Masks Your Legal Entity
Imagine you’ve poured your heart and soul into building your small business. You’ve crafted a catchy trade name, designed a compelling logo, and are finally signing contracts with clients and suppliers. You feel like you’re operating professionally, establishing your brand in the marketplace. But what if the very trade name you’re so proud of could…