Carolyn's Corner | Update on Paid Sick Leave

The final rules have been filed for the paid sick leave employer requirements/employee rights (effective Jan 1, 2018).  Enforcement rules will be adopted shortly.  I know there are going to be many concerns, questions, etc… once employers start to really put this into effect.  One provision that remains in the rule is the application of this language regarding usage of leave:

(4) Unless a greater increment is approved by a variance as pro­vided by WAC 296-128-640, employers must allow employees to use paid sick leave in increments consistent with the employer's payroll system and practices, not to exceed one hour. For example, if an employer's normal practice is to track increments of work for the purposes of compensation in fifteen-minute increments, then an employer must allow employees to use paid sick leave in fifteen-minute increments. 

As new summaries are published, I will provide them to our chambers.

Links for more information on paid sick leave as well as public hearing dates for enforcement rule making are included below.

Carolyn Logue

CA Logue Public Affairs

On October 17, 2017, the Department of Labor & Industries filed the CR-103 on the Initiative 1433 (I-1433) rule language that addresses employer requirements/employee rights.  Below, please find links to the documents contained in the CR-103 filing.

Rule-Making Order

http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO17/02/1702CR103.pdf

Adopted Rule Language

http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO17/02/1702Adoption.pdf

Concise Explanatory Statement

http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO17/02/1702CES.pdf

Final Cost-Benefit Analysis and Least Burdensome Analysis

http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO17/02/1702FCBA.pdf

Revised Small Business Economic Impact Statement

http://www.lni.wa.gov/rules/AO17/02/1702RSBEIS.pdf

These documents will also be posted to the “Document Library” of the I-1433 engagement site.

The enforcement rule language for I-1433 is being addressed in a separate rulemaking. The department filed the CR-102 for the draft enforcement rule language on October 3, 2017. 

Information about the upcoming public hearings for the enforcement rulemaking is provided below. Please note that a pre-hearing overview of the draft proposed rules begins at 9 a.m. for each public hearing. 

November 8, 2017 – 10:00 a.m.

Spokane Center Place Auditorium

2426 N Discovery Place

Spokane Valley, WA 99216

November 9, 2017 – 10:00 a.m.

L&I – Tumwater Auditorium

7273 Linderson Way SW

Tumwater, WA 98501

Allison Drake

Labor Standards Policy Advisor

Fraud Prevention & Labor Standards

Department of Labor & Industries

Phone: (360) 902-5304 Fax: (360) 902-4650

Email: allison.drake@Lni.wa.gov

Molen Orthodontics & Smile Surfers Host a Community Carnival

It was community carnival time at the brand new location of Molen Orthodontics and Smile Surfers in Sumner on Saturday, October 14th, and almost 2,500 local residents and patients showed up to celebrate, as well as the Tooth Fairy who was seen giving out good dental advice to children. 

Their new offices are conveniently located next to the Sumner Gordon Family YMCA.  Molen Orthodontics practice was formerly located across the street in Sumner.  This new location is the first of many businesses our Chamber anticipates in the East Sumner area following the enormous success of the Sumner YMCA and it's membership of more than 20,000 people from the region.

Drs. Bruce, Aaron and Rick Molen also welcome Dr. Jared Loythan of Smile Surfers Kid's Dentistry.  Smile Surfers definitely caters to it's younger patients and their waiting area includes a snazzy orange VW bus that kids of all ages can climb into.

Congratulations to both Molen Orthodontics and Smile Surfers on a memorable grand opening event in the Sumner community.  

Cummins Northwest Ribbon Cutting in Sumner

Cummins Northwest officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting on Thursday, October 19th, at their new location on Traffic Avenue in Sumner.  More than 150 people attended the event to see the new facilities and meet their corporate of officers.  The 55,660 square foot new facility is almost 10,000 square feet larger than their Renton facility and currently employs about 80 people and they plan to hire approximately 20 more employees as soon as possible.

Cummins new location in the Sumner industrial area is a strategic move which not only makes them more accessible to the many logistics companies located in Sumner, but also moves them closer to the majority of their employees who live in east Pierce County.

Congratulations to Cummins Northwest on their great new facility in Sumner. 

2017 Candidate Endorsements

CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS 

The Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce Endorsement Committee endorses candidates for elected office who advocate for policies that support new and existing businesses. Specifically, the Endorsement Committee asks candidates to take an active role in supporting key issues that are outlined in the Chamber’s legislative agenda, including economic development. government accountability, workforce development, and critical infrastructure.

 

Based on their commitment to these issues, the Puyallup Sumner Chamber of Commerce Endorsement Committee endorses the following candidates:

 

SUMNER

                Mayor - Bill Pugh

                City Council, Pos. 1 - Melony Pederson and Ron Haines

                City Council, Pos. 2 - Kathy Hayden

                City Council, Pos. 3 - Barbara Bitetto

 

PUYALLUP

                District 1, Pos. 2 - Jim Kastama

                District 2, Pos. 2 - Cynthia Jacobsen

                

See the Chamber 2017 Legislative Agenda below.

Don't forget to vote on November 7th.

Fair Booth Volunteers Refer Business

Jennifer from Smith & Wetterhus Dentistry promotes local business
with tooth brushes, dental floss and Seahawks calendars.

Carmax gave away free squishy cars and cups to visitors promoting their business

Molen Orthodontics distributed flyers advertising their $2 per lb Candy Buy Back program.
Big hit with parents!

Shari from AlaskaUSA distributed flyers advertising great auto finance programs

Kim from Farmers Insurance gave out entries for Seahawks tickets

Washington State Fair Hosts Business After Hours

Sumner Councilwoman, Cindi Hochstatter, posed with Tubbs

Our September Business After Hours was a hilarious evening of fun with more than 100 business members, electeds and city officials enjoying the hospitality of the Washington State Fair at the Fairview Club.  Our host, Kent Hojem, CEO of the Washington State Fair, welcomed everyone and generously provided more than 20 door prizes for guests to enjoy.

A big Chamber thank you to the Fair for their wonderful hospitality, our greeters, Tubbs and Dennis Lee the Rodeo Clown and all the wonderful prize donations.  It was a really fun evening.

Dennis Lee the Rodeo Clown

Congressman Denny Heck joins our Chamber members at the Fairview Club

Kent Hojem, CEO of the Washington State Fair
welcomes Puyallup Sumner Chamber members

Festive crowd of Chamber members "Doing the Puyallup"

Chamber to Video Candidate Interviews

Once again the Chamber will be videoing candidate interviews for our members to view at their convenience. 

These videos are intended to provide our business members with information about the candidates running for election this November.  We encourage our members to provide input regarding issues that impact their business so that we can share the information with candidates and discuss opportunities for potential solutions.  

The following candidates will be invited to participate in this year’s interview process:

 

Puyallup City Council:

• District 1 Position 2:  Jim Kastama | John Hopkins
• District 2 Position 2:  Heather Shadko | Cynthia Jacobsen
• District 3 Position 2:  Jeremy Hamel | Julie L. Door

 Sumner City Council:

• Mayor:  Bill Pugh (unopposed)
• Council Pos. 1:  Melony Pederson | Ronald (Ron) Haines 
• Council Pos. 2:  Kathy Hayden (unopposed)
• Council Pos. 3:  Barbara Bitetto | Steve Allsop

Please email questions or input regarding business issues to the Chamber by Monday, October 2ndto admin@puyallupsumnerchamber.com or call the Chamber office at 253.845.6755.  

Absher Construction Named Top Company to Work For

Absher Construction was recently named the Top Company to Work For – Large Company – by the Business Examiner South Sound.  The ceremony will be shown live on their Facebook page and will be noted in their September publication.

Congratulations to longtime local construction company and chamber member for recognition as an outstanding business in the South Sound region.  The following is an excerpt from the Business Examiner Blog:

A third-generation, family-owned company, Absher Construction in Puyallup has not forgotten its roots. “Building Community” is still the most significant product and, as one employee wrote in a workforce survey, “I have always been proud of being an Absher employee. I enjoy knowing that our company conducts itself well above board.”

With an employee loyalty and connection so strong and widespread, it’s easy to see how the Top Places judging process would arrive at Absher as the large employer honoree.

Support for workers’ community service commitments is widespread, including matching charitable support. An in-house Leadership Development training program enhances growth potential of employees over its two years of directed learning.

“These are great people!  We actually live our company values,” reads another enthusiastic employee survey. “It is an open, family-oriented company.” “The company’s Core Values are in line with mine.”

Absher Construction strives to be “a community partner that builds facilities that are a component of the community. ‘Building’ is about the people and not the building itself,” summarized another survey response.