Exciting news from 501 Commons! This spring, you will have the opportunity to participate in a project that we hope will result in building up a stronger nonprofit sector that can thrive in a post-pandemic world.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced nonprofits of all kinds to shift to remote working arrangements. Many are still struggling with the transition. But since the pandemic is still confining workers to their homes for the foreseeable future, it’s worth looking at tips that can improve remote work management.

Washington State has a new paid family leave program and, as part of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), employees who work at organizations with fewer than 500 employees may be entitled to a few new federal paid leave benefits.

For the past several months, many organizations have had to make difficult decisions regarding who should or shouldn’t return to their physical workspace.

Reporting work hours have recently taken on new importance now that many nonprofit employees are working from home. The new overtime rules in Washington State also require all employees, including those who are salaried, to track their hours.

In the coming weeks, nonprofits in Washington and Oregon are going to be allowed to resume normal operations and return to the office. While federal, state, and local guidelines should be adhered to whenever possible, you need to establish protocols of your own and communicate these policies clearly to your staff, donors, clients, and volunteers.

As we are in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and economic shutdowns, please be alert to fraudulent unemployment claims being filed using your name or the names of your staff members.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 is causing nonprofits to reevaluate how prepared they are for emergencies. We’ve been monitoring the situation closely and have assembled resources to help your organization adjust to this new reality.

This article provides advice for nonprofits still operating programs and links to coronavirus resources for King County/Washington.

2020 is ushering in new rules on the federal and state levels that define which employees are exempt from minimum wage and overtime pay.