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Time Business News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Time Business News
Washington State Workers: Know Your Rights
If you work in Washington State, you should be aware of your rights on the job. It doesn't matter if you're flipping burgers, stocking shelves, working construction, or in the office: the law is there to protect you. Washington has several laws in place to ensure workers are treated fairly, paid properly, and made safe. But many people do not know what the law actually says. Let's break down what rights you have in plain language and how you can stand up for yourself as well as others if something goes wrong. Nearly all employers in Washington State must pay at least the state minimum wage, which is $16.66 an hour in 2025. Some cities, such as Seattle or Tukwila, can have higher local minimum wages. You're not allowed to be paid any less than this legally for the work that you do. If you work longer than four hours, you're entitled to a paid 10‑minute rest break. If you are working more than five hours, you also must receive at least a 30‑minute meal break. These provisions are in place to enable you to look after yourself and concentrate on the job. If you work more than 40 hours a week, you should be paid overtime at 1.5 times your standard hourly rate of pay. That means you earn time-and-a-half for every overtime hour that you work.' By Washington law, employers must give you 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours you have worked. This paid time helps you take care of yourself when you're sick so that you can recover optimally. You have the right to work in a place that is free from hazards. If you feel unsafe, you should be able to file a complaint and not be punished. This protection is administered by the Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) in Washington. Employers cannot discriminate or harass based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, and other protected categories. Additionally, you cannot be retaliated against for sharing an issue or inquiring about your wages. Washington is an 'at‑will' employment state, which means employers can fire you at any time, for any reason — unless it's illegal. You cannot be fired for using any of the rights included above. If you have a serious illness, a new baby, or are taking care of one of your family members, the state's Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave. You must have worked at least 820 hours for it to apply. If you think your rights have been violated in any way, you can file a Worker Rights Complaint with L&I. Most claims must be filed within three years, and you must file retaliation claims within 180 days. You have the right to join or form a union to help negotiate better terms for your work. You may also collaborate with your coworkers to get better wages and working conditions. Employers cannot retaliate against you for taking such actions. Washington has strong worker protections, but it is on you to know and claim them. For more information or assistance, go to the Washington Labor and Industries worker's Rights site or contact an experienced labor attorney. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP: State suggests best practices when filing for unemployment compensation
Jul. 6—WILKES-BARRE — The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) this week reminded Pennsylvanians of suggested best practices when filing for Unemployment Compensation (UC) benefits to help ensure timely and accurate claim processing. Whether filing a new claim, reopening an existing one, or submitting weekly certifications, taking a few simple steps can help avoid delays and improve the overall experience. Suggested practices when filing for UC: —Gather your information: Before filing, make sure you have your employment history, reason for separation, Social Security Number, and wage details ready from the past 18 months. —Reopen claims promptly: If you return to unemployment after a period of work or missed filings, be sure to reopen your claim during the first week you are again unemployed. —File weekly certifications on time: You must file a certification for each week you are fully or partially unemployed. —Monitor your dashboard: Log in to your UC dashboard at to track the status of your claim, view messages from L&I, and respond promptly to any requests for information. —Respond quickly to requests: If L&I contacts you for more information, respond as soon as possible. —Report earnings accurately: If you're working part-time or earning income, report all wages during your weekly certifications. Honest and accurate reporting protects you from penalties and ensures the integrity of the UC system. "Unemployment Compensation exists to support Pennsylvanians when they need it most," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "The process works best when claimants are prepared, respond promptly, and use the tools we've made available to them. That's how we keep benefits moving to the people who need them." Each UC claim is unique and must undergo an eligibility determination process. The information above is provided for general guidance only and does not guarantee eligibility or payment. For specific case questions, claimants should log in to their UC dashboard or contact L&I directly. L&I encourages all UC claimants to visit for checklists, video tutorials, and answers to frequently asked questions. Individuals needing extra help can also schedule in-person assistance through the Department's UC Connect program at PA CareerLink® locations across the Commonwealth. Key service highlights include: —44,701 new Unemployment Compensation claims filed. —$140.4 million in benefits paid to 98,516 individuals. —80,694 helpline calls answered. —Average call wait time: 24 minutes, 16 seconds. —6,309 live chat sessions completed. —12,408 email inquiries processed. —2,748 individuals received in-person help through UC Connect. PA Chamber applauds passage of pro-growth federal tax reform Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry President and CEO Luke Bernstein today issued the following statement after Congress this week passed the Big Beautiful Bill Act: "Making the 2017 tax cuts permanent represents a significant victory for economic growth, investment, and job creation. This legislation provides the certainty employers need to compete and expand. Provisions like bonus depreciation, the R&D deduction, and the now-permanent small business deduction will drive innovation and accelerate economic momentum across Pennsylvania. "This bill also delivers meaningful tax relief for working Americans and middle-class families — preventing what would have been the largest tax increase in history and helping people keep more of what they earn. No legislation is perfect, but we shouldn't let perfection stand in the way of progress. This bill will boost our economy and set the Commonwealth up for long-term success. "We commend the members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and Senator McCormick who supported these pro-jobs provisions, as well as the Trump administration, for delivering a major policy achievement." Rep. Bresnahan joins key stakeholders for roundtable on local impact of Job Corps U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan Jr., R-Dallas Township, participated this week in a roundtable with local stakeholders and elected officials to discuss the direct impacts of Keystone Job Corps Center on Northeastern Pennsylvania (NEPA). Located in Bresnahan's district in Drums, Keystone Job Corps Center offers a wide variety of career and technical training programs, including construction, healthcare, culinary arts, information technology, manufacturing, security and other trades. Keystone partners with local businesses, nonprofits, labor unions, and local communities to equip students with the skills needed to find employment here in NEPA. Since the start of his time in Congress, Bresnahan said he has been a strong supporter of the Job Corps Program, a free, federal education and vocational training program aimed at helping young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who face barriers to employment. "Right here in NEPA, Keystone is transforming lives, putting our local students on the path to success," said Bresnahan. "By providing training for in-demand fields like construction, healthcare, and manufacturing, they are being set up for family-sustaining careers, building the confidence needed to live meaningful lives, and contribute positively back to our communities. I want to thank Keystone Leadership and community stakeholders for coming together today and highlighting the real-life impacts that our young people of our region. I am, and will continue to be, a proud voice for the Job Corps Program in Congress." On May 29, 2025, U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer sent notices to 99 privately operated Job Corps Centers, including Keystone, stating they must cease operations by June 30, 2025. Department of Aging highlights new efforts to protect older adults from abuse The Pennsylvania Department of Aging this week continued its commitment to protecting older adults by hosting a special learning session with the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) Network to explore how Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) can support elder justice efforts in Pennsylvania. The event brought together a bipartisan group of leaders, including representatives from the PA Office of Attorney General, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, along with 27 AAAs representing every region of the Commonwealth. These MDTs are community-based groups and include professionals from various fields like social services, criminal and civil justice, mental health, medicine, finance and public health. Under the leadership of Secretary Jason Kavulich, the Department is working to bring this approach, utilized by several other states including New York and California, to improve collaboration and outcomes for complex protective services cases in Pennsylvania. "We are proud of the work we are doing at the state level to ensure protection of older adults at the community level," said Kavulich. "One of our Administration's priorities is to continuously advance and modernize our practices while supporting the AAAs to ensure older adults are cared for and safe in their chosen community. This gathering is part of an approach to help AAAs and community partners build teams that are person-centered and nimble, able to move quickly to get the right resources for the victim." "Older Pennsylvanians are targeted every day by scammers and other bad actors trying to exploit them, so we all have a role to play to keep seniors safe and their assets protected," Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday said. "I commend our partners at the Department of Aging, and all of our collaborators from varying professions, for everyone's hard work towards this common mission." Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Eater
10-06-2025
- Business
- Eater
Notorious Royal India Restaurant Owners Charged With Wage Theft
Last week, the former owners of the Kirkland restaurant Royal India, Mohammad Rashid Bhatti and Aeisha Bhatti, were charged with 10 counts of felony wage theft by state prosecutors, who say the father and daughter duo failed to pay workers nearly $45,000 from 2021 to 2023. The pair pleaded not guilty at an arraignment, according to a release from the state Department of Labor and Industry (L&I). If you've heard of Royal India, it might be because it was in the Seattle Times last year when the paper investigated L&I's failure to collect stolen wages and used the restaurant as an example of a business frequently accused of stealing from workers. According to the Times story, Royal India's two locations in Lynnwood and Kirkland 'have been the subjects of at least 37 wage complaints from workers since 2018,' more than any other non-chain restaurant in Washington State. At the time, L&I 'has collected $42,051 from the Bhattis since 2018 out of $121,662 owed in wages, interest and penalties,' the Times reported. Some Royal India employees contacted a worker's rights group called the Seattle Solidarity Network, which organized a picket line outside the restaurant in 2023 and even created a website devoted to documenting the restaurant's supposed misdeeds, including an alleged rat infestation that spread to other tenants at the strip mall and unpaid taxes. The Times reported that the King and Snohomish county health departments cited both locations for code violations, including 'black mold in the ice machine.' The Kirkland location closed in 2024 after city inspectors shut it down for having an inadequate fire suppression system in its kitchen hood. The Lynnwood location closed before reopening under new ownership with the name Dastoor. In the case of the investigation that led to felony charges, L&I went through Royal India's finances and concluded 'they had the ability to pay their employees but didn't,' according to the agency press release, which continued: 'During the investigation, it was discovered that some complainants were also tasked with doing work for Aeisha Bhatti's other business, Marigold Design House. Additional instances of alleged wage theft were discovered during the investigation, including a nanny hired by Aeisha Bhatti who was allegedly not paid for her work.' Many wage theft cases are settled in civil lawsuits or addressed in the normal L&I process. Felony wage theft cases are 'relatively rare,' an L&I spokesperson told the Times, but the agency can refer cases to the state AG if it finds 'what appears to be a clear intent to withhold wages from workers.' Eater Seattle All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
L&I assists thousands with unemployment compensation claims
Jun. 1—WILKES-BARRE — Now in its third year, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's (L&I) UC Connect program continues to provide essential, in-person assistance to Pennsylvanians looking for help navigating the Unemployment Compensation (UC) system. Since its launch in May 2022, UC Connect has helped more than 106,000 Pennsylvanians resolve claims, navigate eligibility issues, and connect to community-based resources, helping more than 700 people in April 2025 alone. Offered at PA CareerLink locations statewide, UC Connect appointments are tailored to claimants who lack reliable internet, are unfamiliar with digital systems, or need language support. With sustained demand for in-person help, L&I has embedded UC Connect into its long-term customer service model. "As UC Connect enters its third year, it remains a necessary and effective tool for delivering unemployment services equitably," said L&I Secretary Nancy A. Walker. "In-person support ensures that no Pennsylvanian is left out of the system simply because they don't have access to broadband or need help understanding the process. L&I has expanded UC Connect's services and took the initiative statewide, and it's clear that our efforts are making a difference in delivering faster, better service for Pennsylvanians." After initially launched as a pilot program in 2022, UC Connect was made a permanent service through bipartisan investments in the 2023 — 24 budget, enabling L&I to hire more than 380 UC interviewers to expand service delivery across Pennsylvania. Unemployment Compensation system update The Department first eliminated a backlog of 40,000 claims from the pandemic era — each requiring case-by-case review — within seven months. The Department then shifted focus to scaling up staff, reducing wait times, and improving access for all Pennsylvanians. Key service highlights from April 2025 include: —Average call wait time was reduced to 18 minutes and 56 seconds. —5,321 live chat sessions were completed—an increase from the same time last year —44,077 new UC claims were filed —$157 million in UC benefits was paid to 99,518 individuals —86,616 helpline calls were answered —13,965 email inquiries were processed —709 individuals received in-person assistance through UC Connect Since the beginning of 2025, L&I has paid out $784 million in UC benefits to more than 483,000 individuals, responded to 361,258 helpline calls, and provided 3,112 UC Connect appointments. Risk-limiting audit of 2025 primary election begins The Department of State this week began Pennsylvania's statewide risk-limiting election audit (RLA) of the May 20 primary. "This is our sixth statewide risk-limiting audit since the 2022 general election," Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said. "RLAs are proven to be the highest standard of comprehensive election audits because the RLA process provides a statistically sound, scientific method for confirming, with a high degree of confidence, that the reported outcome of the audited election is accurate." Schmidt said 10 Department employees took turns rolling 10-sided dice to deliver the random 20-digit "seed number," which is used to determine which batches of ballots counties will audit over the next several days. A random-selection drawing on May 23, resulted in the selection of the contest for the Republican nomination for Judge of Commonwealth Court for this RLA. During the audit, county officials will hand-tally the randomly selected ballot batches, then compare those vote counts to the original machine counts for the selected race. Known as a "batch comparison" type of RLA, this pre-certification audit can confirm whether counties accurately tabulated paper ballots so that a full hand count would produce the same reported outcome. The RLA will be carried out in addition to the 2% statutorily required review that counties must perform after each primary and general election in Pennsylvania. For that review, county officials are required to conduct a statistical recount of a random sample of at least 2% of all ballots cast, or 2,000 ballots, whichever is fewer. Counties must complete the RLA by June 5, and they must certify all election results to Schmidt by June 9. Fetterman joins push to return stolen art to Holocaust survivors U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, is pushing legislation to help survivors of the Holocaust and their families reclaim tens of thousands of pieces of artwork stripped from them by the Nazis. The bill, sponsored by Fetterman and a bipartisan group of lawmakers, attempts to smooth the legal process for these survivors or their heirs as they petition the courts for return of the art, according to a news release. Though Congress passed a bill with the same aim nearly a decade ago, some museums, institutions and governments have stonewalled and battled families in their reclamation efforts, Fetterman's office said. "Some 80 years after the Holocaust, we have a moral responsibility to do right by the victims of these atrocities and their families," Fetterman said in a statement. The proposal extends the original Holocaust Expropriated Art Recovery Act, which is set to expire at the end of 2026. Recognizing the difficulty of tracking down artwork stolen during the Holocaust, Congress in 2016 passed the act to give families six years to file a legal claim for a piece after they've located it. The new bill backed by Fetterman also seeks to make sure families' court claims get fair consideration on their merits rather than being dismissed over technicalities, the release stated. During the Holocaust, Nazi Germany seized hundreds of thousands of pieces of artwork from Jewish people. While the U.S. and other allied nations have tried to restore these valuables to their rightful owners, more than 100,000 pieces still have not been given back, according to Fetterman's office. Fetterman is co-sponsoring the bill introduced by U.S. Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut. DCNR: Free menstrual products available in 68 state parks Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week was joined by First Lady Lori Shapiro and members of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Next Generation Engagement to announce a new initiative that makes free menstrual products available in 68 state parks across Pennsylvania. The products are now stocked in park offices, visitor centers, and environmental educational centers at participating parks, offering a convenient and essential resource for visitors. Signage in English and Spanish helps park-goers locate where products are available. This effort is part of the Shapiro Administration's broader work to make public spaces across the Commonwealth more accessible and supportive for all. The announcement coincides with Menstrual Hygiene Day — highlighting the importance of addressing period poverty through public policy and access. "I've been so inspired by all the young women I've met who are making their voices heard and starting conversations on period poverty — talking so comfortably about something that, for so long, has been a taboo subject," said First Lady Shapiro. "Thanks to them speaking up, Pennsylvania has taken some major steps to ensure more women have access to basic hygiene supplies throughout the day. I want everyone to be able to enjoy their time outdoors, and DCNR's work to get free menstrual products in the bathrooms and visitor offices of our state parks is critical to making our outdoor spaces welcoming to everyone." "No one should have to cut an outdoor adventure short because of their period — DCNR has you covered," said Secretary Dunn. "We are committed to creating inclusive, welcoming outdoor spaces — and that means meeting people's basic needs without stigma or barriers." DCNR will evaluate the program's success and expand it to additional park locations in the future. Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The World's Only Samsung Electronics Leveraged and Inverse Products Debut in Hong Kong Today
HONG KONG, May 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CSOP Asset Management Limited (CSOP), one of Asia's largest ETF issuers and a pioneer in leveraged and inverse products (L&I products), announces the launch of the CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product (HKD counter: USD counter: and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product (HKD counter: USD counter: on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX) on 28 May 2025. These groundbreaking products—the world's only L&I products tracking Samsung Electronics—are designed to empower investors with strategic tools to capitalize on short-term volatility and hedge risks in Korea's most iconic stock, now accessible in a time zone-aligned market, following the successful launch of Asia's first batch of nine single stock L&I products in Hong Kong in March 2025. Samsung Electronics (Samsung), a global tech titan, dominates as Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, and is consistently included in the world's top listed companies by market value with 5.16 million domestic shareholders[1]. Nevertheless, no L&I products for Samsung are available in the global market. However, Hong Kong's proximity to Korean trading hours (vs. U.S./Europe) and CSOP's expertise in L&I products solutions position these L&I products as a game-changer for tactical trading and hedging. In order to track the two times daily performance and two times inverse of the daily performance (before fees and expenses) of the common stock of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the two products deploy a swap-based synthetic replication strategy, with a listing price of about 7.8 HKD (1 USD) per unit, trading lot of 100, and management fee of 1.6% of the ETF's net asset value per year. For investors who are bullish on Samsung, leveraged product can help them gain greater exposure to Samsung, while inverse product can serve as a hedging tool during short-term volatility in Samsung's share price. For investors seeking tactical positioning during regional trading hours, instruments such as Samsung L&I products offer efficient exposure adjustment capabilities. L&I products offer several advantages, including no margin calls, zero collateral requirements, no financing costs, transparent pricing and capped maximum leverage. "We are pleased to announce the listing of CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (2x) Leveraged Product and CSOP Samsung Electronics Daily (-2x) Inverse Product on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange." said, Ms. Ding Chen, CEO of CSOP Asset Management "As a leading ETF issuer in the APAC region with a 99% market share in leveraged and inverse products in Hong Kong[2], CSOP is committed to offering diversified investment options. The introduction of Samsung Electronics' only L&I products globally in Hong Kong offers chances to capitalize on short-term market fluctuations." As Korea's largest publicly traded company by market capitalization, Samsung dominates global markets through its four core divisions: 1) Semiconductors, 2) Display Panels, 3) Mobile Communications, and 4) Consumer Electronics[3]. The company holds world leadership positions across key sectors, serving as the largest manufacturer of OLED panels, televisions, smartphones, and DRAM memory chips[4]. Its semiconductor division ranks among Asia's top two producers, contributing to Samsung's consistent inclusion in the world's top 50 listed companies by market value[5]. About CSOP Asset ManagementFor over a decade, CSOP has successfully established itself as one of the leading ETF issuers in Hong Kong, with second largest AUM and demonstrated innovative product development. As of 31 March 2025, the total AUM of CSOP reached 23.5 billion USD by building a healthy ETF ecosystem and managing 56 ETPs and 3 mutual funds in Hong Kong and Singapore markets*. In 2025, 5 out of the top 10 most actively traded ETFs/ETPs in Hong Kong are managed by CSOP**. Asia's First batch of Single Stock Leveraged & Inverse Products on HKEX Product Name HKD counter USD counter CSOP NVIDIA Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP NVIDIA Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Tesla Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Tesla Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP Coinbase Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (2x) Leveraged Product CSOP MicroStrategy Daily (-2x) Inverse Product CSOP Berkshire Daily (2x) Leveraged Product *Source: CSOP** Source: Bloomberg, from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 Disclaimer and Important Notices NONE OF THE SUB-FUNDS ("SUB-FUNDS") MENTIONED IN THIS DOCUMENT, CSOP LEVERAGED AND INVERSE SERIES AND CSOP ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED ("CSOP") ARE AFFILIATED WITH THE CORRESPONDING COMPANIES OF THE UNDERLYING SECURITIES OF THE SUB-FUNDS (THE "CORRESPONDING COMPANIES").The Corresponding Companies do not sponsor or endorse the offering of the Sub-Funds, nor are they involved with the Sub-Funds in any way. Investing in the Sub-Funds is not equivalent to investing in the Corresponding Companies. Investors have no ownership rights in the Corresponding Companies. Investors in the Sub-Funds will not have voting rights and will not be able to influence management of the Corresponding Companies but will be exposed to the performance of the relevant securities of the Corresponding Companies. The Sub-Funds are authorized by the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") in Hong Kong. Such authorization does not imply any official recommendation by the SFC. This document is for general information only and does not constitute any kind of advice in any way and shall not be considered as an offer or solicitation to deal in any investment products. If you wish to receive advice on investment, please consult your professional legal, tax and financial involves risks. Investors should refer to the Prospectus and the Product Key Facts Statement for further details, including product features and risk factors. This document is not applicable in jurisdictions where the distribution of this document is document is not legally binding. CSOP takes no responsibility for the contents of this document and expressly disclaim any liability for any loss arising from or in reliance upon the whole or any part of the contents of this document. Any information or any part of this document should not be copied, reproduced, or distributed to any parties without the written consent of Sub-Funds are leveraged and inverse products. They are different from conventional exchange traded funds. Each of the Sub-Funds is concentrated in a single underlying stock. Given the non-diversified and leveraged and inverse nature, the Sub-Funds are subject to extreme price volatility and may become non-viable within a short period. The Sub-Funds only targets sophisticated trading-oriented investors who understand the potential consequences of seeking daily leveraged or inverse results. Under exceptional circumstances where the Sub-Funds become non-viable, CSOP may use its discretion to deviate from the investment strategy or take defensive measures, which may include liquidating swap positions and suspending trading of the Sub-Funds and CSOP will issue a notice to inform Sub-Funds are not intended for holding longer than one day as the performance of the Sub-Funds over a longer period may deviate from and be uncorrelated to the leveraged or inverse performance of the underlying stocks over the period. The Sub-Funds are designed to be used for short term trading or hedging purposes, and are not intended for long term investment. This document is prepared and issued by CSOP and has not been reviewed by the SFC in Hong Kong.[1] Source: Korea Securities Depository, as of the end of 2024. [2] Source: HKEX, CSOP Asset Management, as of 30 April 2025. [3] Source: Bloomberg and Korea Securities Depository, as of 10 February 2025. [4] Source: Wind, 2024. [5] Source: Global ranking. Samsung Website, as of 16 April 2025. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE CSOP Asset Management
