Commentary
Paid Sick-Leave Policies Can Be Fraught With Compliance Traps
Employers could face big consequences for missteps
This article appears in print in the February 2019 issue. Click here for a free subscription. Its been more than a year since the effective date of Washington states Paid Sick Leave Act, bringing both legal and practical compliance challenges to employers with Washington-based employees. For most employers, the law added a layer of paid-sick-leave…
Journalism 101: Repeating a False Claim Often Can Be Persuasive, but It Doesn’t Make a Lie the Truth
Saying the same thing over and over again isnt necessarily a sign of diminished capacity
This article appears in print in the February 2019 issue. Click here for a free subscription. When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for American journalists to fear for their safety on their home turf, we have a problem. Exactly how we got to this point isnt a mystery. Our own president…
The Big Questions for Seattle in 2019: Boeing’s New Plane, Amazon’s Next Move and the Fate of Real Estate?
Its 2019, and its time for a new set of questions.
This article appears in print in the February 2019 issue. Click here for a free subscription. The dominant question on the local business scene for most of 2018 had to do with a too-cutesy bit of corporate coinage that, in the end, even its own creator didnt believe in. By the time Amazons trolling for…
Sonic Gloom
The NBA delays its much-anticipated announcement of the return of the Sonics
I had never seen my friend Carter so perturbed. “This is a load of crap,” he said, reflecting the views of NBA fans across the city. “I’m starting to wonder if this is ever going to happen.” Carter — who remains an avid NBA fan, unlike many other Sonics loyalists — was reacting to an announcement this week by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who said the league would deal with expansion at some point in the season…
Habits Of Happiness
How to maintain mental health in a busy work environment
National surveys show that, in a given month, more than 77% of employees experience work-related stress, which can lead to emotional exhaustion or workplace burnout. Thankfully, mental wellness is more consistently addressed and discussed in our society at large and in our workplaces. “Employers are moving past stigmas and creating safe spaces for those with…
Pay Gap Gets Personal
The Washington State Women’s Commission unveils campaign for equal pay
It was his laugh that I remember most. I had just been offered the biggest job of my career, but the salary was not what I had expected. It was low. Shockingly low for the responsibility and public scrutiny I was about to have. So, I tried to negotiate. The president of the company laughed…
AI is here to stay. Its design shouldn’t leave kids behind
Seattle Children’s Research Institute weighs the implications of AI in pediatric care
Seattle is at the forefront of the AI revolution, and while we don’t work in the technology industry, we see the promise for our field of pediatrics. AI is already shaping a new era in medical breakthroughs and…
Erasing The Pay Gap
The essential connection between pay equity and DEIB best practices
Pay equity is a hot topic right now. For many employers, it’s a complicated and challenging issue to solve. Opportunity gaps and unclear decision-making are just a few issues employers across the region can face when tackling these complex topics. Compensation adjustments and sticking with proven diversity, equity and inclusion principles can help. The first…
Every Body is Different
How to build awareness around body and size diversity
Conversations around body-size inclusion are becoming more prevalent in the workplace, allowing us all to examine both professional and personal biases that can be deeply embedded into our workplace culture. Learning genuine ways to discuss body size to establish inclusivity, increase representation internally and externally, and refrain from harmful practices can ensure that your organization’s…
Empowering Black Seattleites in Pursuit of Homeownership
How Seattle’s lack of affordable housing is affecting its Black residents
As a Black woman and financial advisor deeply engrained in Seattle’s community, I’ve witnessed firsthand the struggles many Black individuals face in securing affordable housing…
The Battle Against Bias
How to create an inclusive, psychologically safe workplace
Creating inclusive spaces for folks with expanded gender identities can have a profound impact on both mental and physical health, and the workplace should be no exception. Employers have the unique opportunity to create a sense of belonging for individuals who might not feel inclusion in other areas of their lives. How do you create…
Second-Chance Hiring
Would your organization hire formerly incarcerated individuals?
Even though many studies show that formerly incarcerated talent has equal-to-better job performance stats when compared to peers, some organizations still have systemic bias against employees and applicants with a criminal history. If employers are truly committed to infusing DEIB into their practices, instituting intentional fair-chance hiring practices must be considered. Here are some frequently…