Seattle, WA

Independent Contractor Ordinance Expands Protections for Contractors in Seattle

Published

3 years ago

September 12, 2022

Independent Contractor Ordinance Expands Protections for Contractors in Seattle

As a reminder to firms with impartial contractors performing work in Seattle, town’s Unbiased Contractor Protections Ordinance, SMC 14.34, which expands protections for impartial contractors, went into impact on September 1, 2022.

The ordinance applies to all hiring entities and covers any impartial contractor who performs work, in entire or partly, in Seattle. Importantly, the ordinance requires firms to ship the next info to such contractors: pre-work written disclosures, a discover of rights, in addition to compensation itemization disclosures every time a contractor is paid. The ordinance additionally imposes new penalties for premature contractor funds.

Pre-Work Disclosures

First, the ordinance requires a hiring entity to supply sure written disclosures to impartial contractors previous to the contractor performing work. These disclosures are supposed to summarize the scope of labor for which the contractor has been employed, together with the next info:

date of the disclosure;
names of the events;
contact info for the hiring entity (together with bodily tackle, mailing tackle, phone quantity, and electronic mail tackle, as relevant);
description of labor;
location(s) of labor and common place of job of the impartial contractor or hiring entity;
fee(s) of pay and any variable/incentive compensation phrases;
pay foundation (hour, day, piece fee, and many others.);
tip/service cost distribution coverage, if relevant
typical bills that may be incurred by the impartial contractor, specifying which, if any, are reimbursed by the hiring entity;
any deductions, charges, or prices the hiring entity might subtract from fee to the impartial contractor, and the insurance policies for every kind of deduction; and
fee schedule.

These disclosures necessities could be happy by together with the required info in an impartial contractor, consulting, or different comparable settlement, as long as the settlement is executed previous to the graduation of providers. In any other case, a hiring entity can use the mannequin disclosure issued by the Metropolis of Seattle.

Contractors who had already begun performing work earlier than September 1, 2022, should obtain these written disclosures no later than September 30, 2022, if that they had not beforehand obtained them.

Discover of Rights

Second, the hiring entity is required to supply every impartial contractor with a discover of the rights established by the ordinance. Just like the pre-work disclosures, contractors employed on or after September 1, 2022, ought to obtain this discover previous to starting work, and contractors who begun offering providers earlier than that date should obtain this discover on their subsequent pay date, however in no occasion later than September 30, 2022.

Well timed Cost and Cost Itemization Disclosures

Third, the ordinance requires a hiring entity to supply well timed compensation for work carried out, both as supplied beneath the phrases of the contract or, if the fee phrases aren’t specified within the contract, no later than 30 days after completion of the work.

On the time of every fee, the hiring entity should embody a written disclosure with itemized fee info, together with the next:

date;
names of the events;
description of providers lined by the fee;
location(s) of providers lined by the fee;
fee(s) of pay and any variable/incentive compensation phrases relevant to the work lined by the fee;
pay foundation (hour, day, piece fee, and many others.) with accounting of methodology(s) for figuring out fee earned in the course of the pay interval;
tip compensation and/or service cost distributions, if relevant;
bills reimbursed, if relevant;
gross fee;
deductions, charges, or different prices, if relevant; and
web fee after deductions, charges, or different prices.

Hiring entities can present these disclosures in a type of their selecting, together with the mannequin itemization kind issued by the Metropolis of Seattle.

Violations

A hiring entity that violates the ordinance shall be accountable for full fee of any unpaid compensation with curiosity and could also be topic to civil penalties and fines. The Workplace of Labor Requirements has authority to manage and implement the ordinance and can promulgate administrative guidelines and create mannequin disclosures and notices by September 1, 2022.

Subsequent Steps

Firms that have interaction impartial contractors to carry out providers within the Metropolis of Seattle ought to work with counsel to replace their normal agreements to incorporate the entire required informational disclosures, develop compliant fee itemization types, and make sure the well timed supply of notices of rights and informational disclosures to all current and future impartial contractors.

For extra info on the brand new legislation and associated issues, please contact Jason Storck, Joseph Horne, Rachel Herrington, or one other legal professional in Wilson Sonsini’s employment litigation observe.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Mariners release veteran OF Mitch Haniger

Published

10 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Seattle Mariners release veteran OF Mitch Haniger

A week where young player after young player was whittled from the Seattle Mariners’ camp roster as they work their way towards identifying the final 26 for opening day ended with the release of one of its most veteran players – Mitch Haniger.

Insider: How Seattle Mariners stack up in wide-open AL West

The Mariners announced the release of Haniger before their penultimate spring training game Sunday morning.

“Mitch has been a significant part of Mariners history and will be missed,” Mariners president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto said in a press release. “The day he arrived for his first spring training back in 2017, he established himself as one of the most focused, prepared, and hardest working players I’ve ever been around. We all appreciate the many ways he’s made us all better, on the field and off.”

Originally acquired from the Diamondbacks along with Jean Segura and Zac Curtis in a November 2016 trade, it was the then-lesser-known Haniger that would leave the biggest mark on the Mariners. Among his accomplishments with the team, Haniger leaves as the record holder for walk-off hits with eight, each a memorable moment for the team and fans alike.

“Putting on a Mariners uniform and playing at T-Mobile Park is something I’ll cherish forever,” Haniger said. “To our fans, my teammates, and everyone a part of this organization, thank you for embracing my family and me. We have so many great memories to look back on.”

When Jerry Dipoto embarked on the “step back” plan following the 2018 season, Haniger was one of the few players not dealt away. The intent was to keep the player teammates called “our champion,” as the example for the young players they anticipated coming up.

While he has had many memorable moments and set career highs in home runs (39), RBI (100) and runs scored (110) with the team, injuries have also been a part of his story. His latest, shoulder discomfort, has kept him from games since March 8. With the roster crunch it was hard to see how playing time would be found for the 34 year old, and the move was made with the club to pay the remaining $15.5 million remaining on the final year of his contract.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for our organization, fans and the community, Mitch.
Wishing you nothing but the best in the next chapter of your journey. pic.twitter.com/225rlO3M5Q
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) March 23, 2025

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Follow @shannondrayer

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Seattle, WA

Dynamo earn rare point in Seattle with 0-0 draw

Published

21 hours ago

March 23, 2025

Press Room

Goalkeepers Jimmy Maurer and Blake Gillingham combined to make four saves as the Houston Dynamo earned a rare point in Seattle, playing the host Sounders to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night.

The veteran Maurer, making his first start of the season after Andrew Tarbell suffered a season-ending knee injury last week against Real Salt Lake, made three saves before having to leave in the 67th minute with an apparent quadriceps injury.

Gillingham, making his MLS debut, made one save the rest of the way for the Dynamo (0-3-2, 2 points), who have never won a regular-season match at Lumen Field.

Seattle’s best chance against Gillingham came in the 86th minute, when the Sounders were awarded a straightaway free kick about 25 yards from the goal. Albert Rusnak’s attempt for the upper right corner, however, sailed over the crossbar.

After putting just one shot on target in the opening 35 minutes, the Sounders (1-2-2, 5 points) started creating chances late in the first half.

Joao Paulo hammered an 18-yard shot just over the crossbar in the 38th minute following a nice building down the right wing.

A minute later, Danny Leyva’s left-footed shot from 20 yards forced Maurer to make a leaping save to knock the ball out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, Jonathan Bell’s header went just wide of the right post.

Seattle’s best opportunity came in the 43rd minute as Rusnak got the ball inside the top left of the penalty area and sent a pass to Alex Roldan on the right side. Maurer was forced to make a kick save on Roldan’s 12-yard shot.

Maurer also made a save on a sharp-angled Paul Rothrock attempt from the left wing in the 15th minute.

The Sounders honored Houston midfielder Nico Lodeiro in a pregame ceremony. Lodeiro spent eight seasons in Seattle, leading the Sounders to four MLS Cup appearances, including a pair of titles, and a CONCACAF Champions League crown. It was Lodeiro’s first visit to Lumen Field since leaving as a free agent before last season.

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei had to make just one save. Lodeiro tried a bicycle kick from just inside the top of the 18-yard box in the 56th minute that went well wide of the right post.

Houston defender Ethan Bartlow — a native of Woodinville, Wash., who played at the University of Washington — had to come off with an apparent lower-body injury in the 21st minute.

–Field Level Media

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Seattle, WA

Atmospheric river to welcome first spring weekend in Seattle

Published

1 day ago

March 22, 2025

Press Room

Atmospheric river to welcome first spring weekend in Seattle

SEATTLE – While mostly dry weather is expected today in Seattle, an atmospheric river will take aim at western Washington Saturday night. This will trigger widespread rain overnight through much of the day Sunday.

For Saturday, you can plan on mostly cloudy skies and a few sunbreaks. Highs will be slightly cooler than usual, reaching the upper 40s to the low 50s.

Highs will reach the low 50s on Saturday afternoon in Seattle. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Later tonight, rain will start knocking on our door along the coast and the Northwest Interior. By midnight, rain should become much more widespread and extensive. The North Sound, the Olympics, North Cascades and North Coast will be impacted the most by heavy rain on Sunday. The soaking rain will make driving rather tricky.

It'll be slightly cooler-than-usual in Seattle on Saturday with wet weather back in action by the evening.

Highs will reach the upper 40s to low 50s around Western Washington Saturday. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Can you see the northern lights in Seattle?

If the skies weren’t so cloudy, parts of Western Washington (including Seattle), would have a chance of seeing the aurora borealis tonight!

Sadly, clouds and rain will likely impede the view. More details at the NOAA site.

A Winter Weather Advisory is in effect from 11 p.m. today to 11 a.m. Sunday for snow accumulations of five to ten inches. This includes Stevens Pass and Mount Baker. Otherwise, snow levels will rising dramatically on Sunday afternoon.

Ultimately, any snow will transition to rain over the passes by the second half of the day. The rapidly-changing conditions over the mountains will contribute to elevating the risk of avalanches in the backcountry.

Avoid skiing and snowboarding in the backcountry on Sunday (if not today as well)!

Moderate to heavy snow could make driving over the North Cascades hazardous Saturday night.

Snowy weather will develop over the North Cascades Saturday evening. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Winds will be gusty Sunday to Monday morning; however, winds will likely fall shy of the Wind Advisory criteria – meaning, winds aren’t expected to be damaging.

However, the blustery weather will make it feel cooler and more uncomfortable if you’re trying to spend time outside. In isolated cases, there may be gusts up to 40 mph. Gusts of 20-30 mph will be more common.

An atmospheric river event will trigger widespread rain on Sunday in Seattle.

Temperatures gradually warm in Seattle into Monday afternoon. (FOX 13 Seattle)

River levels will be rising as heavy rain sweeps through the region, but only the Skokomish River looks vulnerable to flooding by Sunday night. We’ll monitor that closely. There, a flood watch is in effect.

The warmest weather of 2025 arrives on Tuesday as temperatures boost to almost 70 degrees in Seattle! Many communities could see their first 70s of the year.

Temperatures remain mild on Wednesday. Showers and thunderstorms could develop at some point Wednesday afternoon.

Cooler, wetter and breezier weather is back in action on Thursday – just in time for the Mariners home opener!