Association of Washington Business – Updated Weekly

TOP NEWS

GOP lawmakers plan exits after controversial new legislative boundaries

Redistricting saga continues: Sen. Brad Hawkins of Wenatchee and Rep. Gina Mosbrucker of Goldendale, both Republicans, announced last week they will not seek another term in the Legislature, both citing a controversial new legislative map as a factor in their decisions. The Washington State Standard has more.

Living in new districts: In March, a federal judge approved new legislative boundaries for Washington following a lawsuit over Latino voters in Yakima Valley. The new map moved five Republican lawmakers into new districts. They could either choose to run for a seat in their new district or relocate to remain in their old district.

Moving across town: Sen. Curtis King of Yakima moved to run for re-election in the 14th Legislative District this year, while Hawkins and Mosbrucker won't seek re-election. The redrawn maps also impact Republicans Rep. Chris Corry of Yakima and Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco.

• "I felt like what was being done here to us was not correct and the only way to respond in a positive way was to move and run as an incumbent in the 14th Legislative District which I am," King said.

Report: How Washington's child care crisis impacts working families

Burden on working parents: A new report from The Seattle Times and Associated Press details how the lack of affordable child care causes parents to exit the workforce. A national survey in 2022 found that 1 in 10 young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down, or drastically change a job because of child care problems.

Impacts on working mothers: The child care crisis, in particular, keeps women out of the workforce. A national Labor Department study found that a 10% increase in the median price of child care was associated with a 1% drop in the maternal workforce.

• "I really didn’t want to quit my job," said Auburn mother Nicole Slemp, but felt she had no other choice due to the high costs of care for her infant son.

Education and employment gap: The good news is that Washington women's participation in the workforce has recovered since the pandemic, reaching a historic high last December. However, that varies based on education levels.

• Mothers with college degrees (bachelor's or higher) are more likely to work, while mothers without college degrees are more likely to give up work due to a child care disruption, according to an analysis from the Education Reporting Collaborative.

Worker Memorial Day honors fallen workers, renews push for safety

Worker tribute: Last week, AWB joined state officials and labor representatives to commemorate 93 people killed on the job in Washington state in the past year, including firefighters, construction workers, mechanics, business owners, and many more. AWB News has a full report from the annual ceremony. You can watch the ceremony here.

Recommitting to safety: The ceremony honored the fallen workers and included a renewed call to avoid these preventable and predictable workplace injuries and illnesses. AWB Government Affairs Director Bob Battles emphasized that employees have a role in keeping each other safe.

• "Safety must be the first thing on your mind when you get to work," Battles said. "And it’s the last thing that you think of at the end of the day."

Mother of fallen worker speaks: Barbara Bojang (pictured), the mother of Demetrius Sellers, who died on July 4, 2022 in a trench collapse, was a featured speaker at the ceremony. She called on more to be done to protect construction workers and other laborers.

Help us honor outstanding employers -- nominate now for AWB annual awards

Nominations wanted: AWB's annual awards program is accepting nominations through June 30. We recognize Washington employers for everything from manufacturing and workplace safety to entrepreneurship and veteran support. Employers are also encouraged to submit self-nominations.

The 2024 award categories include:

Washington Excellence Awards

• Diversity Award (new)
• Workplace Safety Award (new)
• Washington Achieve Award
• Leading Environmental Practices
• Washington Veterans & Families Award
• Excellence in Washington Family-Owned Business
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Employer of the Year

Manufacturing Excellence Awards

• Manufacturing Excellence Award for Operational Excellence
• Manufacturing Excellence Award for Innovation
• Manufacturer of the Year

Who is eligible: The Washington Excellence Awards and Manufacturing Excellence Awards are open to any Washington state company of any size in any industry sector.

• All finalists will be invited to take part in a red-carpet awards gala Nov. 21 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle.

How it works: After the nomination deadline, nominated companies will be invited to submit supporting documentation. A panel of judges will review the submissions, determine the top three nominees, and select the winning company in each category. Winners will be announced at AWB's Evening of Excellence gala this fall.

• Watch this brief video for an overview of the nomination process

Become a bus tour stop: One of the best ways to be considered for AWB's Manufacturing Week bus tour is to submit a nomination for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards; we design our tour around the award finalists.

Click here for the nomination form.

Last chance to join us in Vancouver on May 8; dinner-only keynote tickets available

Registration still open: There's still time to join us on May 8 in Vancouver for AWB's Spring Meeting. The day will feature a full breakdown of state and national elections, plus engaging discussions on civic health, artificial intelligence, Vancouver's thriving downtown, a 2024 legislative session review, and more.

Clark County locals invited: AWB’s room block at the Hilton Vancouver Washington is closed, but alternative lodging options can be found here. The day’s events would also be a great fit for people who live within an easy drive of Vancouver.

Join us for the evening: Dinner-only tickets are also now available for the Spring Meeting evening keynote, a bipartisan discussion with two D.C. insiders and CNN commentators on the upcoming 2024 presidential and national elections:

• Kate Bedingfield, the principal at KJB LLC and an on-air political commentator for CNN. She most recently served two years as White House communications director under President Biden.  Prior to that, she served as deputy campaign manager and communications director on the Biden-Harris 2020 campaign.
• David Urban, the managing director for the BGR Group, and a former chief of staff to former U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania. Urban was appointed by former President Donald Trump to serve as the 11th Chairman of the American Battle Monuments Commission and to the Board of Visitors (Trustees) for the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Register now: Buy your Spring Meeting tickets now before prices increase on Wednesday.

 FEDERAL ISSUES

Business groups sue to block FTC's ban on noncompete agreements

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable and several other business groups have filed a lawsuit alleging the Federal Trade Commission overstepped its authority in issuing a nationwide ban on noncompete agreements. The lawsuit came one day after the FTC voted last week to finalize the noncompete ban.

"The sheer economic and political significance of a nationwide noncompete ban demonstrates that this is a question for Congress to decide, rather than an agency," the U.S. Chamber wrote in the lawsuit. Axios reports that the lawsuit will likely delay the ban from taking effect.

 OTHER NEWS

Darigold names Allan Huttema permanent CEO

Darigold has named interim CEO Allan Huttema its permanent CEO as it expands operations in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1918, the dairy co-op is made up of 300 farmer-owners and is the third largest family-owned company in Washington.

The co-op operates 11 processing plants and is a building a 12th processing facility in Pasco. "As a dairy farmer myself, I know how important it is to have successful and vibrant Darigold to serve as the marketing and processing arm of our co-op," Huttema said.

ZeroAvia opens hydrogen-electric propulsion plant in Everett

ZeroAvia has opened a 136,000-square-foot facility at Everett's Paine Field to manufacture hydrogen-electric engines for aircraft, the Everett Herald reports. The British-American company hopes to certify a propulsion system in the next year for an airplane with up to 20 seats and a 300-mile range.

"This area is becoming one of the major sites for zero emission aviation worldwide," said Val Miftakhov, ZeroAvia founder and CEO, at a ribbon cutting last week. The company expects to employ hundreds at the Everett site.

Washington hospitals lost $1.7 billion in 2023

Eighty-five percent of Washington hospitals lost money in 2023 and saw a combined operating loss of $1.74 billion, according to a recent survey from the Washington Hospital Association. The losses were not as extensive compared to 2022, when hospitals lost $2.1 billion.

The cost of supplies, utilities and staff salaries have increased, while Medicaid reimbursements from the state have failed to keep pace, hospital leaders told KUOW. Meanwhile, hospitals continue to struggle to discharge patients into post-acute settings such as nursing homes.

MLB names Waste Management first-ever Sustainability Partner

Major League Baseball has named Waste Management its Official Sustainability Partner. It is the first collaboration of its kind between an environmental services company and a professional sports league.

Through 2028, Waste Management will have the opportunity to advise all 30 MLB teams in the U.S. and Canada and expects to build comprehensive and custom plans designed to improve sustainable operations for MLB and its teams.

Job Skills grant applications close Thursday

Grant applications are due Thursday for the state's Job Skills Program, which provides dollar-for-dollar matching funds for employee training and retraining. Employers work with an educational institution to train new employees or upgrade skills of current employees.

Since 1983, more than 1,000 employers and 75,000 employees have taken advantage of the program. Find more information on the grant and application deadlines here.

Small Business Day set for Wednesday

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will kick off Small Business Month on Wednesday with a livestreamed, in-person event in Washington, D.C. Business experts and entrepreneurs will offer insights and news-you-can-use tips on today’s biggest small business topics, including:

• Ways to cut costs with AI
• Marketing tactics used by big brands that can be adapted to small businesses
• Growth strategies and more

Learn more and register for Small Business Day here.

 AWB EVENTS & RESOURCES

Learn about new 401(k) plan option in a free webinar on May 15

New retirement plan: Pooled employer plans (PEPs) are now available through AWB’s MyFuture401k program. This type of retirement plan can help streamline administration and reduce costs for employers.

• According to Plansponsor.com, 9 out of 10 job seekers say a 401(k) plan is a must-have benefit, and according to Voya, 70% of employees are more likely to remain with a company that offers a retirement plan.

Learn more: AWB, in partnership with Ascensus and Integrity Financial, will hold a free, no-obligation webinar at 1 p.m. on May 15. The webinar will break down the basics of PEPs and how they simplify the complexity and administration of traditional 401(k) plans.

Register now: Register in advance for this webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the webinar.

Find quality internship candidates with WA Workforce Portal

Free resource: Internship season is coming up soon. Find your ideal internship candidate with the Washington Workforce Portal, a free platform that pairs Washington businesses offering internships, apprenticeships, and mentorships with high-school and college students seeking real-world work experience.

Making a match: Employers can post internship opportunities and students can post profiles with information on the type of internship they're seeking.

• "It was seamless, it was easy, it was free," said Michelle Wynne, human resources business partner at LifePort. "I was able to search any type of intern in any type of specialty and what their major was. I found quality candidates for our business."

This Wednesday: Learn best practices in evaluation, discipline and termination

Next webinar: AWB's HR & Employment Webinar Series continues on Wednesday with an informative session titled "Navigating Performance Management: Best Practices in Evaluation, Discipline, and Termination."

• The 90-minute course will cover legislative updates, effective evaluation strategies with a focus on continuous improvements, disciplinary action dos and don'ts, and termination considerations.

Get credit: Upon request, attendees can obtain continuing education credits through SHRM or HRCI.

Purchase options: Register for the single webinar here or purchase the on-demand combo, which includes all six webinar recordings, instructor slides, and a wrap-up package that will include all webinar materials, extra information, and sample documents.

Upcoming webinars: Webinars will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesdays through July, and include:

• May 1: Navigating Performance Management: Best Practices in Evaluation, Discipline, and Termination
• June 5: Ensuring Workplace Safety: Navigating Accident Prevention & Investigation Plans
• July 10: Safeguarding Your Business: Navigating Non-Competes, Confidentiality Agreements, Non-Solicitations, and Intellectual Property Protection

AWB HealthChoice now available to companies in Clark County

New health benefit option: Clark County businesses and their employees and families now have access to high-quality, affordable health benefits through AWB HealthChoice. LifeWise Health Plan of Washington has teamed up with HealthChoice to provide coverage to Clark County companies.

Statewide coverage: Up until now, AWB HealthChoice plans were not available in Clark County. But now, coverage is truly statewide with LifeWise Health Plan of Washington.

Who can participate: Plans are available for companies with two or more employees in the following industries: manufacturing, agriculture, communications, construction, hospitality, professional services, transportation, technology and retail/wholesale. Coverage is available for a March 1, 2024 effective date.

Get your free quote: For more information and a quote, please contact your insurance producer or Helen Siggins at ProPoint: helens@propointservices.com.

 POST OF THE WEEK

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