On May 13, 2025, Washington State enacted Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1308, which goes into effect on July 27, 2025. This new law amends RCW 49.12.240 and 49.12.250, significantly changing employer’s obligations regarding employee access to personnel files. It replaces prior Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) guidance
Articles About Washington Labor And Employment Law.
Washington Senate Bill 5041 Expands Unemployment Benefits to Striking and Locked-Out Workers
Washington Senate Bill 5041 Expands Unemployment Benefits to Striking and Locked-Out Workers
Washington recently became the third state in the nation—joining New York and New Jersey—to offer unemployment benefits to workers on strike or locked out by their employers. Under the newly signed Senate Bill 5041, eligible workers will be
Washington State Scales Up Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
On May 20, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson took the final step toward implementing House Bill (HB) 1213’s expansion of the state’s paid family and medical leave program when he greenlit funding for the program as part of the state appropriations budget for the 2025-2027 biennium. With this funding, the
WA Cares Gets a Makeover: What’s Changing in 2026
WA Cares Gets a Makeover: What’s Changing in 2026
Washington State enacted significant amendments to the WA Cares Fund (“WA Cares”), the nation’s first mandatory, publicly funded long-term care insurance program for workers. WA Cares was established under the Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Trust Act, signed into law in
Washington Enacts New Protections Against Workplace Coercion Based on Immigration Status
Washington Enacts New Protections Against Workplace Coercion Based on Immigration Status
Effective July 1, 2025, Washington State will protect employees from coercion based on immigration status. Specifically, Senate Bill 5104 prohibits employers from exploiting a worker’s immigration status in furtherance of the employer’s violating wage payment, condition of labor, or
Washington State to Require Unpaid Leave and Safety Accommodations for Victims of a Hate Crime
Washington State to Require Unpaid Leave and Safety Accommodations for Victims of a Hate Crime
Effective January 1, 2026, Washington SB 5101 will require employers to provide leave and safety accommodations to employees who are victims of a hate crime or have a family member who is a victim of
Amendment to Washington Healthy Starts Act Expands Pregnancy Accommodation Obligations and Mandates Paid Lactation Breaks
Amendment to Washington Healthy Starts Act Expands Pregnancy Accommodation Obligations and Mandates Paid Lactation Breaks
Effective January 1, 2027, SB 5217 expands Washington’s Healthy Starts Act (“Act”) to apply the law to employers of any size, require scheduling flexibility for postpartum appointments, mandate paid lactation accommodation breaks, and impose civil
Washington Public Records Act Now Protects Identities in Workplace Investigations
Investigation records have typically been considered public records under Washington State’s public disclosure law, absent a specific exemption or an established legal privilege. On May 15, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed into law House Bill (HB) 1934, a measure that received overwhelming support in the legislature and require broad
Washington State Passes (Yet Another) Paid Family and Medical Leave Amendment, and It’s a Big One
Washington State Passes (Yet Another) Paid Family and Medical Leave Amendment, and It’s a Big One
Washington employers take note: Significant changes to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML) law are on the horizon that will impact every employer in the Evergreen State. The bill amending the
Washington Governor Signs Bill Making Key Changes to Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
On May 20, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law that will provide employers with a cure period for job postings that do not include pay information, allow employers to advertise a fixed amount of pay instead of a wage scale or wage range, and make other
Washington State Enacts New Legislation to Define Employee Access to Their Personnel Records and Termination Information
Washington State Enacts New Legislation to Define Employee Access to Their Personnel Records and Termination Information
As many Washington employers are acutely aware, there exists sparse statutory guidance on how employers must respond to personnel file requests by their employees – and no statutory definition of what constitutes a “personnel
State and Local Updates Affect What Employers May (and May Not) Require from Job Applicants in Washington State
State and Local Updates Affect What Employers May (and May Not) Require from Job Applicants in Washington State
It’s the season for legislative updates – and Washington State lawmakers are no exception. Job postings have recently been an area of focus in state and local laws. Two recent updates in
Washington State’s Amended Pay Transparency Law Includes Grace Period for Employers to Cure Job Postings
Washington State has taken a significant step for employers under its pay transparency law by giving employers a five-business-day grace period to correct violations in job postings and limiting the damages plaintiffs can win, among other changes to the law. The requirement that Washington employers post wage and salary information,
Washington Governor Signs State’s ‘Mini-WARN Act’: Notice Required for Site Closings and Mass Reductions in Force
On May 13, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed a bill into law that will require employers with fifty or more full-time employees to notify the state, any union, and affected employers of a business site closing or mass reduction in force (RIF).
Washington Enacts Mini-WARN Act Requiring Notice Before Certain Layoffs and Closures
Washington Enacts Mini-WARN Act Requiring Notice Before Certain Layoffs and Closures
Washington will soon join the growing list of states that require employers to give 60 days’ advance notice to employees, unions, and the state for certain mass layoffs and business closures. On May 13, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed