2016 legislative review
HB 2291 allowing for total compensation when calculating the minimum wage rate and providing for youth wages
Failed / AWB Supported
House Bill 2291 , sponsored by Rep . Drew MacEwen , R-Union , would have allowed business to include employee benefits when calculating total compensation . It also would have allowed for a youth wage . This bill would have addressed two key concerns raised by AWB that have been ignored by the House Democrats . Those concerns are : that employers have additional cost above labor ; and Washington state has a significant teen unemployment issue . The bill would have allowed an employer to count some of the additional costs toward compensation . It further would have addressed the teen unemployment problem . Teens currently are limited on the number of hours they can work and what type of work they are allowed to do . The current law fails to recognize that distinction when it comes to youth compensation . Instead , the current law requires employers to pay the same rate for a 17-year-old with no skills and a limited scope of work as a 21-yearold with three years of experience . Rep . MacEwen ’ s bill would have addressed this issue . The bill failed to move in committee .
SB 6087 minimum hourly wage
Failed / AWB Concerns
Senate Bill 6087 , sponsored by Sen . Steve Hobbs , D-Lake Stevens , would have increased the minimum wage to $ 12 over four years . It also included a sick leave / paid-time-off provision providing one hour for every 40 hours worked . SB 6087 included some of AWB ’ s principles , but not all . Missing from the bill were any teen or training wage provision . The bill failed to move out of the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee .
When dealing with minimum wage discussions , AWB continues to review and evaluate all public policy proposals on minimum wage based upon the following principles :
1 . There must be uniformity in the minimum wage ;
2 . Any increase in the minimum wage should be phased in over time ;
3 . Any statewide solution should include a teen wage ;
4 . Any statewide solution should include a training wage ;
5 . Any increase in the minimum wage should include other types of compensation as part of the calculation of a minimum wage .
It can be expected that minimum wage will be a major topic in the upcoming 2016 elections .
HB 2578 unemployment job search requirements
Failed / AWB Supported
Rep . Laurie Jinkins , D-Tacoma , introduced House Bill 2578 , a proposal that would have allowed in-person activities with a career counselor at an accredited institution of higher education to qualify as a job-search activity for unemployment claimants . While this bill would have addressed one problem with the current law , it failed to address a larger issue . That issue is the inability of the state Employment Security Department ( ESD ) to enforce worker compliance in the first five weeks of a claim . AWB asked that an amendment be added to the bill to require workers to provide proof of job searches to ESD during the first five weeks of being on unemployment . Currently , they can refuse to provide this information . Labor , as well as the prime sponsor , opposed this amendment . The current law creates a situation that allows individuals to game the system . The amendment would have addressed this abuse . The bill passed out of the House 57-40 without the amendment . The bill ultimately failed to move in the Senate .
HB 2484 dairy farm workplaces
Failed / AWB Opposed
House Bill 2484 , sponsored by Rep . Brady Walkinshaw , D-Seattle , would have required the Department of Labor and Industries to adopt permanent rules establishing : ( 1 ) Training requirements for dairy farm employees ; ( 2 ) A dairy safety emphasis unit within the department ; and ( 3 ) Safety and health standards for dairy farms to ensure safe dairy workplaces . It also addressed discrimination , violations , complaints , remedies , and penalties with regard to dairy farms and employees of the farms . AWB opposed this bill , because on its face it was not a safety bill at all . Dairy farm safety is already addressed in the current law . Instead , this bill was an attempt by the prime sponsor and labor to change the wage and hour laws as well as certain penalties / damages for one industry . This bill would have added treble damages and additional penalties against one specific industry . It was an attempt to punish dairy farmers with no hope of improving real safety . The bill failed to move out of the House .
10 association of washington business