Washington State Employment Laws for Health Care Providers

Expanding Your Practice without Expanding Your Risk

Expanding your clinical practice with employees can provide a range of opportunities and potential pit falls. In this workshop we will examine the legal, ethical, and practical standards regarding employment in health care. Among the topics we will discuss are, types of employment, the hiring process, employment contracts versus handbooks, wage and benefit requirements, employee termination, and Washington’s non-compete law (new for 2020). This course is intended to meet ethics continuing education requirements.

Through this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to discover the guidance provided by state law, federal law, and a range of applicable ethical codes. In addition to the provided case studies and scenarios, participants are encouraged to share their own experiences, questions and thoughts.

Objectives

Participants in this workshop will be able to:

1. Describe the key legal, ethical, and liability differences between employees and independent contractors.
2. Understand and describe difference between At-Will and For Cause employment.
3. Identify and describe Washington legal standards regarding termination of employment and non-compete agreements.
4. Create strategies for legal and ethical hiring processes.
5. Describe and apply Washington state sick leave and family care leave rules.

EPDC CE Hours: 6

Presenter: Eric Strom

Eric Strom is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation and guidance to mental health professionals. The focus of Eric’s clinical practice is providing mental health counseling services to combat veterans. Eric is currently serving as the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.