Business Climate Blog

Demonstrating that government rules and regulations play a significant role in small business owners’ staffing decisions, two reports show small businesses across the nation cut back on hiring this summer and have lowered their staffing plans for the future.

On the heels of L&I’s unexpected announcement that average workers’ compensation tax rates will not increase in 2013, department officials are trying to assure businesses they will not face a double-digit tax hike in the future by shifting an increase from an election year (now) to a non-election year in near the future.

But a double-digit increase is exactly what is in store for employers over the next decade.

The day I was in Portland participating in NFIB’s Small Business Conference on government regulations and their impact on small businesses, the State Auditor’s Office released a Performance Audit on regulations in Washington state.

The state Department of Labor & Industries is considering some significant changes to the Washington Administrative Code related to electrical permits.   After a series of meetings with those in the industry who must navigate the maze of regulations and permits associated with electrical work, L&I’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) approved several proposed WAC changes that, if passed, would provide relief to HVAC and electrical contractors.  Most of the proposed changes pertain to low voltage, but they also effect high voltage as well.