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Happy New Year Microenterprise Development Organizations (MDOs) and Microbusinesses! There are several new regulations and requirements that went into effect on January 1, 2022 that could impact small and microbusinesses. Check out this great resource from Washington State Labor & Industries that highlights a few, including changes in minimum wage, overtime and worker’s comp: 

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Changes in the minimum wage, overtime for white-collar professionals, overtime for agricultural workers, and workers’ compensation premiums took effect Jan. 1, 2022. https://www.lni.wa.gov/news-events/article/?id=21-043‍

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Other changes include:

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• The state’s minimum wage increased to $14.49 per hour https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/wages/minimum-wage/‍

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• The minimum salary an employee must earn to be considered overtime-exempt was raised. https://www.lni.wa.gov/.../over.../changes-to-overtime-rules‍

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• Under an historic new law, Washington’s farmworkers are now eligible to earn overtime, for the first time. https://lni.wa.gov/workers.../agriculture-policies/overtime‍

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• The average workers’ compensation premium rate for hours worked in 2022 has gone up 3.1 percent effective Jan. 1. https://www.lni.wa.gov/.../rates-for-workers-compensation

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