Businesses brace for increases in workers’ comp, unemployment rates in 2010
Washington businesses face a jittery start to 2010 with increases in both workers’ comp rates and unemployment insurance. The average unemployment rate will jump from 1.55 percent in 2009 to 2.38 percent in 2010, according to the state’s Employment Security Department. Workers’ compensation rates are expected to increase about 7.6 percent. AWB President Don Brunell told the Tacoma News Tribune last week these increases are significant because most businesses have already shaved their costs to the bone during the recession. “All of those added, extra costs can be damaging,” he said. One bright spot: the minimum wage will remain unchanged at $8.55 per hour in 2010 — the first time it has not increased since voters approved an initiative 11 years ago linking it to the Consumer Price Index. Washington’s minimum wage remains the highest in the nation.

Washington Legislature convenes next week
State lawmakers return to Olympia on Monday for the start of the 2010 legislative session, and that means the return of AWB’s Lobby Lunch series, beginning Jan. 21. Be sure to join us as special guests brief us weekly on activity at the Capitol. Also, please note that parking, which has traditionally been hard to find during the session, will be even more challenging this year because of the construction of the state’s new Department of Information Services building on Jefferson St.. Please allow plenty of time to find parking when visiting either AWB or the Capitol.

Health care bill passes Senate, but it’s not too late for positive reform
On Christmas Eve, Senate Democrats approved a health-care reform bill that will greatly expand Medicaid and create a massive unfunded mandate for cash-strapped states. Lawmakers still need to reconcile the bill with the one approved earlier by the House of Representatives, which means it's not too late to urge deeper reforms. There are better ways to expand access to health care and reduce costs. Meanwhile, 13 state attorneys general, including Washington’s Rob McKenna, are contemplating suing in federal court to challenge the constitutionality of favors to certain states, including Nebraska and Louisiana, in order to secure their senators’ votes for the bill. AWB urges its members to contact Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and their House member to oppose this legislation. Read more on AWB’s blog, Olympia Business Watch.

Gov. Gregoire to speak at AWB’s Legislative Day, Feb. 3 – Register now
Gov. Chris Gregoire will speak at AWB’s Legislative Day on Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Olympia’s Red Lion Hotel. Meet face-to-face with legislators and participate in panel discussions on policy issues that matter most to Washington’s business community. This event is one of your best opportunities to network with other AWB members, elected officials and agency directors. It’s also a great chance to enhance your company’s visibility through a sponsorship. To register or become a sponsor, click here or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.

Memorial service Tuesday for Pierce County sheriff’s deputy
A memorial service will be held tomorrow at the Tacoma Dome for Pierce County sheriff’s deputy Kent Mundell, who was killed in the line of duty last month. AWB has lowered its flags to half-staff through Tuesday in his honor and will be making donations to the Behind the Badge Foundation to aid the families of all six Western Washington law enforcement officers shot to death in late 2009.

Washington likely to gain 10th Congressional District after 2010 census
Washington state could be in line to gain another seat in Congress. If projections from the U.S. Census Bureau hold, Washington will gain enough new residents to take the 435^th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, according to analysts at Election Data Services. In the past decade, Washington grew by 13 percent and is now the 13th largest state. In 2000, it was the 15th most populous state. Washington grew by nearly 100,000 during 2009 and now has a statewide population of nearly 6.7 million, up more than 770,000 from the April 2000 count.

Here's to a better and safer New Year!
2009 ended with a string of bad news, including the deaths of six Washington law enforcement officials, eight more soldiers killed in Afghanistan and a lone terrorist with ties to anti-American radical groups attempting to bring down a passenger jet. State and local government budgets are also in trouble, the federal government is going deeper in debt and far too many people are unemployed and losing their homes. In his New Year’s Eve blog post, AWB President Don Brunell hopes 2010 will be better. Among his New Year’s wishes: That elected leaders will focus on fixing the economy, putting people back to work and making private-sector job creation a priority.

 

Workers’ Comp Coalition meets tomorrow to discuss upcoming legislation
Upcoming legislation will be discussed at the Workers’ Comp Coalition meeting, tomorrow, 10 a.m. – noon, at AWB. For more information, contact AWB’s Kris Tefft.

Preview of legislation at Energy Committee meeting, Wednesday
AWB’s Energy Committee meets this Wednesday, 3:30 – 5 p.m., in AWB’s Small Conference Room.Possible modifications to I-937 and other energy related legislation for 2010 are on the agenda. For more information, contact AWB’s Chris McCabe.

GoGreen conference aimed at helping businesses become more sustainable
GoGreen ’10, a one-day sustainability conference next spring in Seattle, will feature more than 45 speakers and 12 different sessions aimed at helping business owners “go green.” Attendees will hear first-hand success stories and join in panel discussions offering turnkey solutions useful to any size business. AWB is a media partner for the conference and AWB members who attend will receive a discount; use the discount code “AWB” when registering. The conference is Wednesday, April 21, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Olive 8 at The Hyatt, 1635 8^th Ave., Seattle. To register online, visit GoGreen Seattle.

 

Forklift: Train the Trainer workshop – Thursday, Jan. 14
Proper forklift safety training will make your company a safer place to work — and keep you in compliance with the law. Attendees who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion, a CD of workshop materials and a PDF manual they can reproduce to train their own employees on proper forklift safety. Register online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.

Get in compliance for 2010!
Significant changes were made to the required state and federal employment posters in 2009 — click here for a list of poster changes. Pre-order your updated poster set today to ensure your company is in complete compliance with Washington state and federal labor law posting requirements. To order an updated state and federal poster set, contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello.

2010 Safety Academy
AWB has partnered with Sedgwick CMS to offer courses for safety and non-safety professionals who wish to increase their safety knowledge and effectiveness in developing and administering safety programs within their companies. Classes will be offered in Spokane, Seattle, Moses Lake and Olympia. You can find class listings and registration information online or contact AWB’s Jennifer Costello for additional information.

AWB Members save up to 26 percent on UPS shipping!
AWB members can save time and money thanks to a new partnership with UPS! You can save up to 26 percent on shipping costs with discounts on UPS Next Day Air^®, UPS Worldwide Express^SM and UPS 2nd Day Air A.M^®. Find out how to take advantage of these savings today by calling 800.325.7000 or click here to enroll in the program to begin receiving discounted rates! Be sure to identify yourself as an AWB member.

Still time to participate in AWB salary and benefits survey
AWB has partnered with WageAccess to provide you a survey that includes more than 900 benchmark positions in a wide variety of industries. This survey allows you to query, select and filter results by geographic location, industry and company size. The survey results also include a comprehensive set of descriptive statistics, compensation analysis tools and trends in salary and benefit administration. Sign up or learn more about the AWB survey here. If you have not yet participated in the survey, it's not too late. Since the survey results are updated quarterly, your data can still be included!

“The only thing healthy about Congress' health insurance legislation is the healthy skepticism about it by most of the public, as revealed by polls. What is most unhealthy about this legislation is the raw arrogance in the way it was conceived and passed.” – Thomas Sowell, senior fellow, Hoover Institution