Starting January 1, WA’s minimum wage will increase to $16.28 per hour for employees ages 16+. This represents a 3.4% increase from this year. This new rate applies to nonprofit employers of all kinds.

Every quarter, all WA-based employers – including nonprofits! – must complete and file a Paid Family and Medical Leave report and pay premiums. With the launch of WA Cares Fund on July 1, this means additional reporting is required.

Starting on July 1, nonprofits in Washington need to deduct premiums from their employee's paychecks to fund the Washington Cares Fund, a state-operated long-term care insurance program open to anyone 18+.

Most of you have probably implemented the overtime and minimum wage changes that went into effect on January 1, but we want to ensure that organizations are aware of all the provisions of these regulations and are not leaving themselves open to fines, back wages, or court cases by being out of compliance.

Starting a new job triggers feelings of excitement but also some level of anxiety. Haphazard or nonexistent onboarding can be detrimental. It may portray the organization negatively (as not caring about its employees) or just being lackadaisical in all its operations. However, an official onboarding plan can alleviate feelings of discomfort and point new employees in the right direction as they begin their association with you.

Most leaders will agree that the engines moving them forward are their people. So, making smart hiring decisions is critical. Although all businesses have recruitment challenges (especially in the current turnover environment), nonprofits often have unique staffing issues that make it more difficult for them to find and retain exceptional talent.

Offering a competitive compensation package is key to leading a successful nonprofit hiring process. Attractive compensation offerings appeal to prospective employees in the recruitment phase and can even lead to increased employee retention down the road.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is hosting a series of free webinars that provide both workers and employers the chance to learn more about the state’s employment laws.

Like employers in other sectors, nonprofits are facing workforce challenges. These challenges include turnover, job abandonment, shifting expectations about transparency and involvement in decisions, and dissatisfaction with pay and benefits.

Most nonprofit jobs require knowledge of the sector and professional expertise. This is reflected in the high education levels in the nonprofit workforce. However, community-based nonprofits tend to have lower pay levels compared to the government, philanthropy, education, and health care sectors. This makes it challenging to attract and retain well-qualified employees.