Tech companies have relied on nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for decades to maintain their competitive advantage, inserting confidentiality clauses into employment contracts and severance agreements in the name of protecting trade secrets. But in recent years, NDAs have become common practice across industries, in many instances giving cover to powerful people accused of harassment, or workplaces rife with misconduct. This proliferation of ...
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Washingtonians could soon be spending less for insulin. A new bill to lower insulin costs has been introduced by Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, prior to the beginning of the 2022 legislative session. Senate Bill 5546 would put a $35 price cap on a 30-day supply of the life-saving drug for diabetic patients in Washington. Read more here.
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We are proud to announce the recipients of Food Lifeline’s 2021 Legislative Awards! These awards are given to state lawmakers who have made significant contributions to food justice in Washington. Our partnership with elected officials is critical to advancing our mission of feeding people experiencing hunger today, while working to end hunger for tomorrow. With sincere appreciation, we present the 2021 ...
Read MoreA former Apple Inc employee who had filed a whistleblower complaint related to Apple's use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) has inspired draft legislation in Washington state that seeks to restrict companies' use of NDAs in settlements of workplace harassment and discrimination claims.
The measure comes ...
Read MoreLast month, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California signed a bill to expand protections for people who speak up about discrimination in the workplace.
A new website arrived to offer tech workers advice on how to come forward about mistreatment by their employers.
And Apple responded to a shareholder ...
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By Karen Keiser and Emily Randall Special to The Times You often hear that a college degree is the only path to secure high-wage, high-skill employment. But that’s not how it has to be. We could build a system that opens the door to a successful future for so many more Washingtonians. With more than 20,000 apprentices enrolled in registered state apprenticeships in ...
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By Karen Keiser and Mike Sells / For The Herald We have heard a lot of talk about “essential workers” over the past year, as we depend on people whose work cannot be done remotely; tens of thousands of workers braving all hazards to keep our medical system functioning, our pantries full of food, and our buses moving. Our reaction in the ...
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Washington State Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) was the principal sponsor of the new law. “We are looking at a bit of an economic rebound,” Keiser said, “so that will help, because the Microsofts and Amazons and Costcos of the world are still paying their premiums as normal.” Keiser said the new law will also raise the state’s minimum unemployment benefit, ...
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Seattle Times: Washington state lawmakers grill auditor aides over disclosure of massive data breach
State lawmakers grilled aides to state Auditor Pat McCarthy at a hearing Thursday, questioning the auditor’s actions related to a massive data breach affecting 1.3 million Washingtonians. The questions and criticism zeroed in on whether McCarthy’s office should have disclosed the breach of a third-party file-hosting vendor sooner, and whether the auditor should have amassed so much personal ...
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State lawmakers probing the massive data breach at state Auditor Pat McCarthy’s office say they’re frustrated with ongoing secrecy surrounding the incident, which exposed personal information of at least 1.3 million Washingtonians. Three state senators who have pressed for details about the breach say the auditor’s office has conditioned private briefings on a confidentiality agreement, meaning they cannot share all ...
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