Articles Discussing General Topics In Washington Labor & Employment Law.

As temperatures rise and wildfire season intensifies across the Pacific Northwest, Washington State employers must remain alert – for the safety of their workforce and to follow state law. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) has adopted specific rules that require businesses to protect employees from the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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).