Articles Discussing General Topics In Washington Labor & Employment Law.

With summer weather and wildfire season approaching, Washington employers will have new seasonal workplace safety rules to take into account. On June 1, 2022, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) adopted emergency rules that add to already existing protections for outdoor workers from the summer conditions of

The Washington Employment Security Department has amended the “waiting period” regulation, WAC 192-500-185, for certain employees who successfully apply to the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program.

Under Washington’s PFML, the “waiting period” falls during the first seven consecutive calendar days beginning with the Sunday of the first

In an effort to close what is viewed as a persistent pay gap, Washington has amended its Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA) for the second time to require employers to include wage and benefit information in their job postings.  This replaces the prior requirement that employers provide this

With the groundbreaking enactment of a new law relating to certain transportation network companies, rideshare drivers in Washington State will soon enjoy various benefits typically associated with employee status while retaining the independence and flexibility of their independent contractor status.

On March 30th, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law SB 5761, which will require employers to include in each job posting salary or pay range and information about other compensation and benefits.  The new law goes into effect January 1, 2023.  Read more.

On March 24, 2022, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee signed into law the “Silenced No More Act,” which becomes effective June 9, 2022 (“Effective Date”). The Act prohibits agreements containing non-disclosure and non-disparagement provisions that restrict applicants, employees, and independent contractors from openly discussing conduct or a legal settlement involving conduct that the applicant, employee, or contractor “reasonably believed” was illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, a wage and hour violation, a sexual assault, or conduct that is “against a clear mandate of public policy.” This new law does not prohibit an employer from keeping confidential the amount paid in the settlement of any claim, nor does it prohibit employers from protecting trade secrets, proprietary information, or confidential information that does not involve illegal conduct.

On March 30, 2022, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed into law Senate Bill (SB) 5761, a measure that requires employers to affirmatively disclose in each job posting open to applicants the salary range or wage scale to be offered, as well as a general description of all benefits and other

The rise of state pay transparency laws continues, this time with Washington doubling down on its most recent round of pay equity legislation. If new legislation currently on the desk of Governor Inslee becomes law, Washington employers will soon be required to make affirmative compensation-based disclosures to both applicants and

Drivers for rideshare companies that connect drivers and users through smartphones or a digital network in Washington have new labor protections under legislation passed by the Washington legislature. HB 2076 creates new rights for drivers providing services through “transportation network company drivers” (TNCs), classifying the workers as independent contractors rather than employees based on certain factors.

The Washington legislature has passed the “Silenced No More Act,” which would limit all Washington employers’ use of nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions in employment agreements.

Washington State has issued several updates to COVID-19 orders and guidance to clarify masking rules following Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement that the state-wide mask mandate was lifted effective March 12, 2022.

The Washington Legislature recently voted to send the Silenced No More Act (Engrossed Substitute House Bill [ESHB] 1795) to Governor Jay Inslee’s desk for signature. As currently drafted, the proposed legislation would prohibit nondisclosure and nondisparagement provisions in agreements between employers and employees regarding “illegal acts of discrimination, harassment, retaliation,

Most indoor COVID-19 masking requirements in Washington will be abandoned beginning March 11, 2022, at 11:59 p.m., Governor Jay Inslee has announced.

On January 27, 2022, Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bills 1732 and 1733, delaying and amending the Washington Cares Act (WA Cares).  Notably, for employers, the bills delay the obligation to withhold WA Cares employee premiums, now set to begin on July 1, 2023, and require employers to