The Washington Cares Act: What Employers Need to Know
Lunch and Learn
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
- 11:00 a.m. Lunch Served
- 11:20 a.m. Virtual Room Opens
- 11:30 a.m. Presentation Begins
- 12:30 p.m. Presentation Ends
The Washington Cares Act is a new program that provides long-term care coverage for Washingtonians. As an employer, it's important to understand the program's details to ensure compliance.
Under the Washington Cares Act, employees will contribute 0.58% of their wages during their working years towards this coverage. Employers are responsible for facilitating employee payroll deductions and forwarding them to the Employment Security Department.
The premium is based on 0.58% of an employee’s gross wages and is NOT capped at the taxable maximum for social security, unlike the Paid Leave program. Prior permanent exemptions are still valid, and new exemptions have been added since the law was first passed.
Contributions to the program begin on July 1, 2023. You must comply with the program requirements by ensuring that the payroll deductions are accurately calculated and submitted to the Employment Security Department.
By participating in the Washington Cares Act program, your employees can receive lifetime long-term care insurance coverage for up to $36,500 (adjusted annually for inflation) without any cost to you as an employer.
Join ABC and Employer Solutions Law and learn to communicate the program requirements to your employees, discover exemptions, and become proficient in calculating, collecting, and remitting premiums.
Attend in person at the ABC Western Washington, Bellevue Office
or virtually in the ABC Zoom Room
Driving directions or Zoom connection information will be included with your registration confirmation.
Lunch included for in-person attendees:
Sandwich buffet with various salads and non-alcoholic beverages
ABC Members
In Person $0.00
Virtually $0.00
Non-Members
In Person $50.00
Virtually $25.00
Sponsorship Levels:
Lunch Sponsor $150 (2 available)
Be recognized for providing lunch to in-person attendees
Zoom Sponsor $150 (2 available)
Be recognized as the Zoom Room sponsor to hybrid attendees
Presented by:
Karen G. Forner
Employer Solutions Law
Since 1993, Karen Galipeau Forner has been working on Labor and Industries issues and employment law matters. Karen’s early background includes working at the Attorney General’s Office in the Labor and Industries Division. At the AG’s office, Karen got an inside look at construction companies and safety practices, or lack thereof. After working as a Senior Attorney at a private law firm assisting employers with Labor and Industries cases, in 2009 Karen founded K-Solutions Law – now Employer Solutions Law – in Bellevue, Washington. The firm grew to 10 employees aiding and advising employers statewide on matters of workers’ compensation, workplace safety (WISHA/DOSH/OSHA), wage and hour, prevailing wage, and employment law issues.
Karen cares about her clients and finds great satisfaction in working with employers in becoming safer companies to save money and lives. Her goal is to ensure clients’ needs are met by taking a proactive and strategic approach to problems, keeping clients and the team informed, and handling cases in a manner that gives clients peace of mind so that they can focus on their core businesses. All the while, Karen has also become an industry-wide speaker and is often called upon to do training presentations across the state and nation.