Jeanette Bowers Weaver

Business Law & Contract Law in Bellevue, WA

Phone: 425-822-0630 | email: jbw@bowerslaw.com
  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Business Law
    • Contract Law
    • Estate Planning
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
    • Press & Publications
    • Legal Tips
    • Business Owners
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Write a Review

Tips From the Trenches

November 5, 2013 by bowadmn

Legal Tips For Your Business from Your Local Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland Attorney

jbw cropped headshot

Dear Valued Client,
I hope these brief Tips From the Trenches prove valuable.
If there is a topic you would like to read about here, please let me know. Thank you for the opportunity to assist with your legal needs.

Sincerely,
Jeanette Bowers Weaver, JD, MBA
Bowers Foreman, PLLC


NLRB: The gift that keeps on giving

Do you tell employees not to discuss you, their employer, in social media? If so, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) may come knockin’. NLRB’s recent report tells employers what the NLRB considers illegal. NLRB will pursue cases against companies that prohibit employees from making disparaging comments about the employer through traditional media, social media, online blogs or similar

The NLRB opines that employer confidentiality policies are illegal if they prevent an employee from discuss their wages and working conditions with others, in or outside the company. Per NLRB, if a policy prevents an employee from telling a family member how much they make then the policy is overbroad.

Also, NLRB opines that an employer cannot tell its employees not to discuss the company with the media, finding such prohibitions illegal. However, the NLRB did bless a media policy that stated repeatedly that its purpose was to insure that only one person spoke for the company to the media. To read more, CLICK HERE.

The take away from this new report from the NLRB is that every company, even small employers, must think very carefully before instituting a social media policy.

Meal and rest breaks in Washington. A brief reminder….

Washington employers must provide their non-exempt workers with a rest period of at least 10 minutes for each four hours worked, and the rest period must be allowed not later than the end of the third hour of the shift. Non-exempt employees may take several mini breaks instead of the 10 minute rest period if the mini breaks total 10 minutes. Examples of mini rest periods include allowing employees to make personal phone calls, to eat, take a smoke break, or whenever there is not work to be performed for a few minutes during a work shift.

There is no requirement under state law that an employer provide a room where the employee can take his or her rest break or meals. Regarding meals, employers are required to provide a meal period of no less than 30 minutes if the employee works a five or more hour shift.

The employee must be at least two hours into their shift before the meal time can start. The meal time cannot start more than five hours after the beginning of the shift. An employer is required to pay for the meal period unless the employee is free from all duties during their entire meal period. Non-exempt employees may voluntarily give up their meal period if they would prefer to work through their meal period and if the employer agrees. The best practice would be to obtain a written statement from the employee giving up their meal periods in this way. Read more HERE.

Filed Under: Tips

Latest Tweets

  • An important read and warning from the FBI to business owners! https://t.co/UASSfCCRn2 April 25, 2016 3:15 pm
  • A little Monday law humor for you! Just remember, talk to Jeanette BEFORE things start to get "funny"! http://t.co/6lJLiHsyW7 June 8, 2015 2:45 pm
  • Count on Jeanette to deliver reliable business litigation. Not to mention advise you when you need it the most... http://t.co/ShqqiM9tvm June 1, 2015 5:44 pm
  • More Tweets

Site Map

  • Home
  • About
    • Testimonials
  • Services
    • Business Law
    • Contract Law
    • Estate Planning
  • Resources
    • Client Resources
    • Press & Publications
    • Legal Tips
    • Business Owners
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Write a Review

Latest Tweets

  • An important read and warning from the FBI to business owners! https://t.co/UASSfCCRn2 April 25, 2016 3:15 pm
  • A little Monday law humor for you! Just remember, talk to Jeanette BEFORE things start to get "funny"! http://t.co/6lJLiHsyW7 June 8, 2015 2:45 pm
  • Count on Jeanette to deliver reliable business litigation. Not to mention advise you when you need it the most... http://t.co/ShqqiM9tvm June 1, 2015 5:44 pm
  • More Tweets

Find Us Online

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Jeanette Bowers Weaver, PLLC

Mailing Address:
PO Box 1930
Issaquah, WA 98027

Physical Address:
15405 SE 37th Street, Ste 100
Bellevue, WA 98006

Telephone 425-822-0630
Facsimile 425-822-7197
Email jbw@bowerslaw.com

Copyright © 2019 Jeanette Bowers Weaver, PLLC · All Rights Reserved · Site Design by babaLucas

Copyright © 2019 · Ally on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in