October - December 2019

Blackstone Seattle LLC dba Quality Inn & Suites Seattle Center; The Victus Group, Inc. dba Blackstone Hospitality Group, Quality Inn & Suites Seattle City Center ("Quality Inn"), which operates a hotel franchise location with 30 employees in Seattle, settled allegations under the Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance. OLS alleged the company did not provide notification of PSST balances during part of 2016 and had an unlawful cap on PSST accrual through mid-2018. The total financial remedy was $10,875 which includes $10,375 to 58 affected employees and $500 to the City of Seattle.

Juicy Café, a juice and food café with four locations in Seattle and approximately 20 employees, settled allegations under the Wage Theft ordinance. OLS alleged the employer withheld tips from employees when they did not provide two weeks' notice. The total financial remedy was $865.38 to two affected employees.

Total Success Event Services, a catering and event staffing agency with approximately 240 employees worldwide and 20-25 employees in Seattle that provides staff and services for events throughout Washington, Oregon, and California, settled allegations under the PSST ordinance. The company operates one location in Seattle, and most of the work performed by employees occurs outside city limits. OLS alleged Total Success Event Services was not providing PSST or tracking hours worked in Seattle. The total financial remedy was $11,964.23 to 30 affected employees.

Sinclair Media of Seattle, LLC dba KOMO TV; Sinclair Broadcasting of Seattle LLC dba KUNS TV ("Sinclair"), a large television broadcasting company, settled allegations under the PSST ordinance. OLS alleged Sinclair failed to provide some employees with sufficient accrual, and that despite having multiple banks of paid leave, Sinclair failed to permit some employees to carry over sufficient amounts of PSST. The total financial remedy was $11,245.60 to 14 affected employees. In addition to monetary remedies, Sinclair also agreed to reinstate a total of 3,602.95 hours of PSST to 173 employees.

Universal Protection Services, LP dba Allied Universal Security Services ("Allied Universal"), a large company that provides security and janitorial services throughout Seattle, settled allegations under the PSST ordinance. OLS alleged Allied Universal retaliated against an employee by terminating her when she called out for protected safe time use. The total financial remedy was $8,332, which includes $3,000 in penalties payable to the affected employee and $5,332 to the City of Seattle. This was OLS' first safe time case, and Allied Universal's third violation of the PSST ordinance.

Amazon Fresh LLC ("AmazonFresh"), an Amazon.com subsidiary focused on grocery delivery service, settled allegations under the Fair Chance Employment (FCE) ordinance. OLS alleged Amazon Fresh failed to identify to the applicant the specific information upon which it relied in making its decision not to hire the applicant; failed to provide the applicant an opportunity to explain or correct criminal background information; and failed to hold the position open for two days. The total financial remedy was $533 to the applicant.

Convoy Coffee, a coffee company that operates one fixed location in Pioneer Square as well as a mobile coffee cart, settled allegations under the FCE ordinance. OLS alleged Convoy Coffee included a criminal history question on its job application. The total financial remedy was $533 to the City of Seattle.

Tacos Chukis, a restaurant with three locations in Seattle and over 50 employees, settled allegations under the PSST ordinance. OLS alleged Tacos Chukis unlawfully required a doctor's note after one day ofPSST use and failed to have a written PSST policy. The total financial remedy was $11,446.49 to 63 affected employees.

The King County Bar Association ("KCBA") settled allegations under the Fair Chance Employment ordinance. OLS alleged the KCBA failed to provide notice and an opportunity to be heard to an applicant before making an adverse employment decision based solely on the applicant's criminal history record. The total financial remedy was $350 to the applicant.