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Washington Employment Law Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Appeals / Appellate Law and Employment Law for Washington on
Q: My unemployment claim is under investigation for fraud. If I am denied benefits, can I file an appeal and if so, should

I furloughed because of covid 19 and applied for unemployment benefits (in Washington D.C). My claim was not being processed, so I called their office and the representative I spoke with said that I was under investigation for fraud because I did not list myself as having a job in Maryland.... View More

Charles William Michaels
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Charles William Michaels
answered on May 5, 2020

I sounds like that you should be prepared to file an appeal. There are very good lawyers in Washington DC who handle appeals on unemployment benefits. Talk to any one of them, before the 21 days is up.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Personal Injury and Education Law for Washington on
Q: I used to be a mascot in college and got a skin disease from it that has now lasted years. Is there Anything I can do?

The school was in Washington state and I was paid for being the mascot. I told them about it and had to stop working after I got a child’s skin infection from the suit.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on May 8, 2020

A Washington attorney could advise best, but your post remains open for two weeks. Unfortunately, this looks like it would be a tough case. When you say "years," that raises concerns about statute of limitations issues. That aside, if other mascots did not suffer similar reactions to the... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Washington on
Q: I feel discriminated against, my co-worker misses 50% of her scheduled shifts, she does not get reprimanded, I miss 1 dy

I miss 1 day and get written up and threatened to be fired. There is more to the story, but this one was brought to my attention 1 month after the fact. Can this be considered discrimination?

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on Mar 18, 2020

Whether you have a claim for discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 will depend on WHY you feel you're being discriminated against. If you are being treated differently than other employees based on your race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age (if you're... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Washington on
Q: I havent been accumulating pto and instead they've just been adding the 1 hour of pto pay to my check.
Greg Mansell
Greg Mansell
answered on Mar 4, 2020

Have you informed Human Resources or the payroll department? It sounds to me like this is a mistake, especially if there is a set PTO policy. I would contact your HR/payroll immediately so the amount they are paying you on your paycheck for the PTO does not get to a level you cannot pay back.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Can a employer require you to on site for a specified time but only pay when are doing a specified task?

As a ski instructor I am required to be on site for the day but am only paid for the time I have a class.. Possible to be there all day and not get a class and receive no wage.... No pay at all for time between classes... Is this legal?

Rhiannon Herbert
Rhiannon Herbert
answered on Jan 22, 2020

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, employees must be paid for all time spent performing compensable work. This includes "on-call" time, where employees are not actively performing work for the employer but where their freedom to perform other activities is restrained. If you are required... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Employment Discrimination for Washington on
Q: Is this illegal and do you think I would stand a chance if I took it to court???

So my situation is this. I applied for this front desk job at this local hotel a couple weeks ago and in the interview I disclosed my severe anxiety disorder to them. (I have also been diagnosed by a doctor) and they still hired me. I worked for a little over a week and the job was making me have... View More

Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson
answered on Dec 13, 2019

Your severe anxiety disorder likely qualifies as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). It sounds like, because your anxiety was causing panic attacks at the front desk, you requested a reasonable accommodation of being placed in a housekeeping position. Your termination... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Contracts and Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Can a company pursue whoever they want to reimburse them for relocation allowance?

I’m leaving my current company who relocated me to Seattle. Like many of my coworkers we signed a contract for relocation money. Some people have quit or been terminated and haven’t been pursued for the money but they are coming after me. Can the company pick and choose who they go after?

Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson
answered on Dec 13, 2019

Generally speaking, yes they can. You may want to consider reaching out to an employment law attorney in your state for a consultation.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Tax Law, Workers' Compensation and Business Law for Washington on
Q: Can I sue for getting paid under the table?
Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Oct 5, 2019

It would depend on what the basis of the lawsuit was, but an attorney in each of the categories you list could probably advise you on the downside of working off the books. Maybe one of the most pressing issues is workers' comp coverage for an on-the-job injury. Good luck

Tim Akpinar

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Tax Law for Washington on
Q: Is it normal for your total amount on withholdings on your w2 not match your total amount on your last pay check

Should your w2 info match info on your last pay stub

Bruce Alexander Minnick
Bruce Alexander Minnick
answered on Apr 8, 2019

Many companies use two separate programs when creating paychecks and W-2 forms; and this is especially true in companies that use third party payroll companies and third party CPAs to prepare 1099s and W-2s. In most cases the difference is too tiny to be concerned about. When choosing which one to... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Business Law and Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Is it illegal for a boss to have his family/friends on company payroll even if they don't work for the company?

Mr. Y, is a religious man and head of a seafood company branch owned by the church he attends. 5 years ago, he hired his friend, Reverend K, who "quit" the company after 6 months. Recently, upper management received an e-mail they were not suppose to get. It was HR asking Mr. Y who half... View More

Brent Bowden
Brent Bowden
answered on Sep 12, 2018

It could be argued that he was sealing money and committing fraud, especially if he turned in timesheets/employment applications/etc that contained false information.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Can a consulting firm employ a consultant as Exempt and hourly, paying them an hourly rate based on billed hours?
Mark David Nusz
Mark David Nusz
answered on Sep 1, 2018

If you are an exempt employee, that means that your employer does not have to pay you overtime rates (i.e. time and a half for weekly hours over 40) or the minimum wage. In order to classify you as an exempt employee, there is a three-part test that must be passed. One of these tests is that you... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Can my employer fine me for not giving a 2 weeks' notice, and can they withhold my final paycheck for any reason?

The employee handbook has a disclaimer stating that it is not a contract of employment.

It says that a fine of $75 will be issued if a 2 weeks' notice is not given, on the basis that it will be compensation for other employees who have to cover for extra work. Is it legal for my... View More

0 Answers | Asked in Employment Law for Washington on
Q: Is it illegal for my employer to force me to take callback of 35 min when I live 65 minutes away from hospital?

I work as a medical professional at a county hospital which is failing. The CEO wants to change my job and force me to take "on call" of 35 minutes when he knows I live 65 minutes away. I believe he is setting me up for failure and I think this is illegal. I have worked there 3 years in... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Civil Litigation, Car Accidents and Employment Law for Washington on
Q: I am searching for US case law to establish myself as an owner operator ( independent trucker ) for a lawsuit

I was in an accident. The other driver was at fault. The company I was leased to filed a claim against my loss thereby screwing up my case. The insurance company is awaiting proof of ownership even though I sent them my contract along with my claim

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Nov 30, 2017

There are several claims you may have. For what was in the truck, for damage to the truck or trailor, for your damage (injury/medical bills/lost wages).

I suggest you contact a member of the State of Washington Assn for Justice--they give free consultations.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Immigration Law for Washington on
Q: I am an American wanting to work in Canada but I do not want to lose my citizenship. Will I lose it if I accept a job?

I have a degree in criminal justice and would like to work in law enforcement in Canada. However, I read that by taking an oath I could lose my citizenship. Is this true? Are there ways around it?

Hector E. Quiroga
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Hector E. Quiroga
answered on Oct 19, 2017

You can lose your citizenship if you swear allegiance to another country. Perhaps you don’t need to be a citizen of Canada, however, just their equivalent of a permanent resident.

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Personal Injury, Workers' Compensation and Construction Law for Washington on
Q: Do I have a case- short version- I tore my meniscus while on the job. Before I thought about possibly claiming L&I,

I gave my Dr my work insurance info and just told them I tore it getting it of car. I had worked for them for 5 months before this incident. When I finally talked to them they non-chalantly encouraged me not to claim L&I, saying they would pay me 80 hrs every 2 weeks and when the medical bills... View More

Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
answered on Jul 6, 2017

Talk to a member of the State of Washington Assn for Justice who handles workers compensation. Problem is your original story.......but members of SWAJ give free consults.

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