Legislators should reject Senate Bill 5541, which proposes lowering the minimum wage for teens in Washington state. Teenagers work for all sorts of reasons, including to pay for college, to support themselves, and to support their families. A recent Urban…
Earlier this year the U.S. Census Bureau released a report about the more than 10 million non-citizen immigrants under age 35 residing in the United States. The data show more than half of these individuals came to the U.S. as…
New research by the National Partnership for Women and Families puts Seattle at the top of the list for the widest gender wage gap among the nation’s 50 largest metropolitan areas. That means Seattle women working full-time, year-round make a…
Healthy employees make for a healthy business. But paid leave benefits isn’t just about business owners stepping up for economic gain. It’s about helping kids get the best possible start in life – which pays off in the long-run.
Healthcare professionals have long touted the benefits of breastfeeding for the health and development of new babies. Research shows infants who are breastfed have lower incidence of respiratory infections, asthma, eczema, childhood leukemia, Type 2 diabetes, childhood obesity, and sudden…
Despite sound economic research showing that good base wages have positive effects on businesses, workers and the economy, attacks on Washington’s minimum wage surface year after year – 2012 was no exception. On January 31, the House Labor and Workforce…
By David Groves | Washington State Labor Council Imagine a company that does business in every county in Washington state, pumping billions in payroll dollars into our economy. Better still, this company is counter-cyclical, ramping up hiring and payroll when…
Cross-posted from the Washington Family Leave Coalition: Since the late 1980’s, Washington’s Family Care Act (FCA) has helped ensure workers can use their paid sick days or other paid time off to care for a sick family member. For the…
By David Groves | Washington State Labor Council One of the most persistent myths about Washington state’s business climate is that our workers’ compensation costs are higher than in most other states. The fact that many employers and public policymakers…
By David Groves | Washington State Labor Council National rankings that analyze state business climates — including those by conservative “pro-business” think tanks and policy groups — consistently rank Washington among the very best states for business. They say we…
