Washington has become the first state in the nation to formally recognize a voluntary employee benefit program that encourages workers to continue their education with assistance from their employer.

Senate Bill 6141 legally defines Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs), which are savings accounts funded through matching employer-employee contributions and dedicated to covering the education costs of the participating employee. The law builds on a pilot program that has operated since 2009 with employers in Thurston, Lewis, Pacific and Grays Harbor counties. read more »

May and June always put a spotlight on parents, as we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Many of our co-workers are parents, and we all realize that although their children don’t generally come to work with them, they are still parents during their work-days. Our policies, practices and work-place culture matter to these employees.

According to the BLS, 34.5 million families in the U.S. in 2010 had children, and 87 percent of them had an employed parent. Seventy-one percent of mothers with children under 18 were in the labor force, and 64 percent of those had children under the age of 6. Both parents were working in 58 percent of the families. These statistics demonstrate that parents are clearly a factor in our workplaces! read more »

Part of the mission of the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association is to preserve and enhance the character of the waterfront district. In pursuit of that goal, over the last three summers the GHHWA purchased and maintained the hanging baskets that grace the waterfront from May through September. The effort involved recruiting, training and managing the daily watering crews, and the volunteers include property owners, local businesses and private citizens.

GHHWA is looking for additional volunteers to help with this summer program. The flower baskets are ordered and will be delivered in late May. Daily watering will begin as soon as the baskets are hung by the City Public Works Department. Watering route and equipment orientation and training will take place in May. read more »

Military Times Edge ranked Olympic College as the top two-year college on the west coast for military veterans. Over 500 student veterans were surveyed in spring 2011 on what they consider the most important school services for vets. The factors they considered are academic accreditation, central veterans’ offices, and staff knowledgeable on veterans’ issues. Results of the survey showed that 18 colleges that offer two-year degrees in the US made the list. Olympic College was ranked fifth and was the only two-year institution from Washington State. The ranking list is on the web at this link. read more »

April Fool’s Day. What does it mean to you? Do you have a favorite workplace prank that you pull out each year to spring on your unsuspecting co-workers? My father always looked forward to April 1st. He’d put a spool of thread in the inside pocket of his suit coat and, with the help of a needle, he would pull the thread so that it poked out through the front of his jacket. All day long, unwitting well-meaning people would pluck the thread off his coat, attempting to help him with his grooming, only to find themselves pulling and pulling at a never ending piece of thread. My dad never tired of his prank. read more »

Easter Seals Washington, a statewide non-profit organization serving people with disabilities, is seeking Board Members from the Kitsap County area to add to its volunteer Board of Directors.

Easter Seals provides a full range of services to people with disabilities to help them live more independently and become more included in their communities. Services include recreational therapy in Pierce County, assistive technology in Spokane, inclusive child care and education throughout the state, autism services, and workforce development in Bremerton. Easter Seals Washington serves over 4000 people per year with a budget of over $5m. read more »

The Tacoma Rainiers have announced dates for both their annual Job Fair and Preseason Party as they continue preparation for the club’s 2012 season opener on Thursday, Apr. 5.

On Saturday, Mar. 10 from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., the Rainiers will hold the team’s 2012 Job Fair in the Cheney Stadium Summit Club, located on the ballpark’s third level. The Rainiers are searching for hardworking, customer service-oriented individuals to fill over 150 part-time game day positions in areas that include concessions, hospitality services, security, parking and janitorial services. read more »

Many of us running businesses today are members of the Baby Boomer generation (born between 1946 and 1964). In our younger years, we believed that we were going to change the world. Our huge presence in the workforce and the marketplace has indeed caused many changes. And as of 2011, the first of our generation turned 65, officially hitting retirement age. For years, researchers have been trying to predict how the aging of the Baby Boomers will impact the workplace. read more »

Shortly after moving here in the late 1980s I interviewed for a job with a small business. The owner’s wife had several questions for me. Was I married? Did I have small children that might need my attention during the workday? Did I plan to have more children? Did I have any health issues that might cause me to miss work? When I got home I told my spouse there was no way I’d work for someone who asked so many illegal questions! However, I actually ended up taking the job and helping the business create policies and procedures to keep them from crossing over into this illegal territory in the future. read more »