A new Washington law expands protections for job applicants and employees under the state’s Fair Chance Act, aligning the statewide law more closely with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance. Notably, employers will...more
Washington lawmakers were busy this year, and a wave of new laws will have a major impact on the workplace. Employers must be aware of significant workplace laws taking effect within the next year, including 11 new laws that...more
7/30/2025
/ Agricultural Workers ,
Business Closures ,
Child Labor ,
Coercion ,
Collective Bargaining ,
Construction Project ,
Criminal Background Checks ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Driver's Licenses ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Equal Pay ,
Family Medical Leave ,
Hate Crimes ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Law Violations ,
Layoffs ,
Mini-Warn Acts ,
New Legislation ,
Notice and Cure Requirement ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Personnel Records ,
Prevailing Wages ,
Private Right of Action ,
Public Projects ,
Safety Standards ,
State Labor Laws ,
Time-Off Policies ,
Unemployment Benefits ,
Unions ,
Wage and Hour ,
Washington ,
Workplace Safety
Washington employers will soon get some relief from the state’s strict job posting requirements after lawmakers unanimously passed a law to mitigate some of the more onerous parts of the key state statute. Starting July 27,...more
A new law in Washington state aims to protect warehouse employees by setting certain requirements for employers and warehouse staffing agencies. HB 1762, which Governor Inslee signed into law on May 4, defines and requires...more
5/22/2023
/ Adverse Employment Action ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Employment Policies ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Quotas ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Staffing Agencies ,
State Labor Laws ,
Warehouses ,
Washington
Washington employers are already prohibited from using employment agreements that restrict workers from disclosing claims of workplace sexual assault and sexual harassment – but will soon be unable to use nondisclosure...more
Answering the question Fisher Phillips recently posed to Washington employers – to deduct or not to deduct – Governor Inslee signed into law on January 26 the bills swiftly pushed through the legislature that delay collection...more
Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries just decided to substantially raise the state’s salary threshold to meet the salary basis test for “white collar” overtime exemptions. As set out more specifically below,...more
12/16/2019
/ Department of Labor & Industry ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Minimum Salary ,
Misclassification ,
New Legislation ,
Over-Time ,
Salaried Employees ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Finding that “workforce mobility is important to economic growth and development,” Washington just passed a new law that will significantly restrict noncompetition agreements with both employees and independent contractors....more
Washington employers, get ready. Starting January 1, 2019, the state’s Employment Security Department (ESD) will begin collecting premium payments from employers so the historic Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program...more
12/14/2018
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Medical Leave ,
New Legislation ,
Notice Requirements ,
Paid Leave ,
Reporting Requirements ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour
In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo movement, Washington employers will soon need to comply with two new laws aimed at preventing sexual harassment and assault in the workplace while encouraging open...more
3/23/2018
/ Anti-Harassment Policies ,
Anti-Retaliation Provisions ,
Best Practices ,
Confidentiality Agreements ,
Employee Training ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Governor Inslee ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Human Resources Professionals ,
New Legislation ,
Non-Disclosure Agreement ,
Settlement Agreements ,
Sexual Assault ,
Sexual Harassment
The past year has brought multiple new workplace laws that will require employers in Washington to change several key policies and procedures. Below is an update that provides a general overview to help you prepare for these...more
9/21/2017
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Employment Policies ,
Medical Leave ,
Minimum Wage ,
New Legislation ,
Paid Family Leave Law ,
Paid Leave ,
Paid Sick Leave Act ,
Pregnancy ,
Reasonable Accommodation ,
Sick Leave ,
State Labor Laws ,
Undue Hardship ,
Wage and Hour ,
Work Schedules