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  • Contact Information:
    Law Office of D. Jill Pugh 520 East Denny Way Seattle, WA 98122 Tel: (206) 325-2801
    Fax: (206) 260-9154
    jill@employmentlawwa.com
  • Located in the Historic Ward House: Seattle's Oldest Residence
    (Restored and converted into office space by attorney David Leen in 1986)

Quote of the Week

  • For May 19, 2008

    “In the view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The humblest is the peer of the most powerful.”
    ~John Marshall Harlan (1833-1911) Dissenting opinion, Plessy v. Ferguson 163 U.S. 537, 559 (1896).
  • For January 21, 2008

    “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”
    ~Martin Luther King Jr.
  • For July 30, 2007

    "Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."
    ~Henry James
  • For June 4, 2007

    “The excitement of learning separates youth from old age. As long as you’re learning you’re not old.”
    ~Rosalyn S. Yalow
  • For May 28, 2007

    "The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it."
    ~Thucydides
  • For May 21, 2007

    "No man or woman is an island. To exist just for yourself is meaningless."
    ~Denis Waitley
  • For May 7, 2007

    "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."
    ~John Wooden
  • For April 16, 2007

    "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
    ~Jackie Robinson
  • For April 9, 2007

    "On my income tax 1040 it says 'Check this box if you are blind.' I wanted to put a check mark about three inches away."
    ~Tom Lehrer
    [Happy 79th!]
  • For April 2, 2007

    "You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen."
    ~Joe DiMaggio, on Opening Day

    [Go Mariners!!]
  • For February 26, 2007

    "Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest."
    ~Larry Lorenzoni
  • For February 19, 2007

    [In honor of this week's holiday...] "Discourage litigation. Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often a real loser - in fees, expenses, and waste of time. As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man. There will still be business enough."
    ~Abraham Lincoln
  • For January 15, 2007

    "It's snowing still. And freezing. However, we haven't had an earthquake lately."
    ~Winnie The Pooh (A.A. Milne)
  • For January 1, 2007

    "New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual."
    ~Mark Twain
  • For November 27, 2006:

    "At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

    Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us."
    ~Albert Schweitzer
  • For November 6, 2006:

    "It's the job that's never started as takes longest to finish."
    ~J.R.R. Tolkien
  • For September 11, 2006:

    "Justice without strength is helpless, strength without justice is tyrannical..."
    ~Blaise Pascal
  • For September 4, 2006:

    [In honor of all those going back to school this week...]
    "Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog."
    ~Doug Larson
  • For August 21, 2006:

    “What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”
    ~Sir John Lubbock
  • For August 14, 2006:

    "Your integrity will affect your destiny; don't leave home without it."
    ~Clarence E. Hodges
  • For June 19, 2006:

    “A deadline is negative inspiration. Still, it's better than no inspiration at all.”
    ~Rita Mae Brown
  • For June 12, 2006:

    "An unfulfilled vocation drains the color from a man's entire existence."
    ~Honore de Balzac
  • For May 1, 2006:

    "In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity."
    ~Albert Einsten
  • For March 27, 2006:

    "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."
    ~Charles Dickens
  • For March 20, 2006:

    "A knowledge of the path cannot be substituted for putting one foot in front of the other."
    ~M.C. Richards
  • For March 13, 2006:

    "You will never find time for anything, you must make it."
    ~Charles Buxton
  • For March 6, 2006:

    "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
    ~William Butler Yeats
  • For February 27, 2006:

    "Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."
    ~Harriet Braiker
  • For February 20, 2006:

    "It is never too late to be what you might have been." ~George Eliot

Disclaimer

  • PLEASE NOTE:
    This blog is made available by the lawyer publisher for educational purposes only as well as to give information and a general understanding of the law, not to provide specific legal advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no attorney client relationship between you and the Blog publisher. The linked sites are not under the control of the Law Office of D. Jill Pugh and the Office is not responsible for the contents of any linked site. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent legal advice from a licensed professional attorney in your state. D. Jill Pugh is licensed to practice law in the State of Washington only.

« February 2006 | Main | June 2006 »

"Googling" As A Way Around Anti Discrimination Laws?

    I’ve read lots of material about the hazards of personal blogs and how some blogs have gotten employees fired.  However, a recent article online from Business Week (You Are What You Post) raised a new concern for me - potential employers may be able to “Google” an applicant and find out all sorts of information that it is illegal to ask for in an interview.  (Such as age, marital status, whether or not an individual has children, whether you have ever been arrested, the value of your home, and more).  Of course it would be difficult to prove - either that a decision maker did an online search or that the information influenced the hiring decision.  Still, in the modern era the wise job seeker should probably keep tabs on their online “profile” - especially if it contains embarrassing information or false information.

New Washington State Law Regarding Recovering Wrongfully Withheld Wages

    On March 17, 2006 Governor Christine Gregoire signed into law some significant changes to the law regarding complaints filed with the state Department of Labor and Industries (“L&I”) regarding wrongfully withheld wages.  SB 3185 amends and adds to Chapter 49.48 of the Revised Code of Washington.  Key points:

  • It requires L&I to investigate wage claims filed by an employee, and it must issue a determination of some sort within 60 days (with certain exceptions);
  • If L&I determines the employer has violated a wage payment requirement, L&I may charge interest of 1%, and if L&I determines that the violation was willful, it may assess a penalty;
  • It creates an administrative appeal process for parties to dispute any determination or citation from L&I; and
  • It creates collections procedures for L&I to recover any unpaid wages or unpaid penalties by a fined employer.

    I think these are good changes for employees with relatively small claims (less than $5,000), because they are the ones who typically cannot obtain legal representation - the amount due is too small for a contingency fee and to pay by the hour would eat up the recovery.  And often, in my experience, L&I does nothing for them under the old system either.  On the other hand, employees should be aware that if they use this new administrative process they will only recover their unpaid wages - the penalties in this system go to a state fund, not the employee.  In a private court action, an employee may seek to recover up to twice the amount of wrongfully withheld wages plus attorneys’ fees.

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