State AGs Again Turn to Workers' Rights Units in Trump Era

Labor and Employment attorney Alex Cates spoke with Law360 about state attorney general (AG) efforts to enforce workers' rights and how they may affect employers. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown became the latest state AG to announce such an effort, creating a new worker rights unit to focus on wage theft and address other workplace issues. Ms. Cates said the move "is really sending a strong message to employers on wage and hour issues in Washington," even though the state already has some of the strongest protections in the country on the books. She added that with Washington following in the footsteps of multiple other states, including California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York, companies should start assessing potential areas of scrutiny; overtime pay, independent contractor classification, minimum wage, meal and rest breaks, recordkeeping and tipping compliance are all places to start.

"Employers should review their policies, conduct internal audits [and] ensure their workforce is trained," she recommended.

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