News & Analysis as of

State Labor Laws Washington

Dickinson Wright

Are Employee Driver’s License Requirements in the Rearview Mirror? What Washington’s New Law Says

Dickinson Wright on

Heads up, employers—a new law went into effect in Washington State this week (effective as of July 27, 2025) limiting when an employer can require job applicants and employees to have a valid driver’s license. A recent update...more

Foster Garvey PC

2025 Legislative Developments Affecting Washington Employers

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Washington employers face a wave of new workplace legislation, some of which recently became effective and some that will begin in 2026 and beyond. These new or modified laws address a broad range of topics, many of which...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Further Limits Criminal Background Checks in the Workplace: An Employer’s Guide and Compliance Action Plan

Fisher Phillips on

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

Fisher Phillips

Washington Ramps Up Personnel File Rules and the Consequences for Noncompliance: 5 Employer Takeaways + 5 Steps to Take Now

Fisher Phillips on

Washington law has long given employees the right to inspect their personnel records and former employees the right to receive a written statement about the reasons for their termination – but, until now, employers faced no...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington State Workplace Law Roundup: Nearly 20 New Laws Taking Effect Within the Next Year – Starting Now

Fisher Phillips on

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

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Heat Waves and Hazy Days: A Compliance Reminder for Washington State Employers

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

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...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Washington State Joins the Mini-WARN Act Club. How Will Layoffs and Business Closings Be Impacted?

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Washington is the latest state to enact a “mini-WARN” act, joining a growing number of states with legislation similar to the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (WARN), 29 U.S.C. § 2101, et seq. The...more

Perkins Coie

2025 Washington Legislative Employment Law Update

Perkins Coie on

With the close of the 2025 Washington state legislative session, it is time to review the new employment laws and amendments that will affect businesses operating in Washington. Many of these changes take effect on July 27,...more

Fisher Phillips

Oregon and Washington Will Allow Unemployment Benefits for Striking Employees Starting in 2026: Key Takeaways for Employers

Fisher Phillips on

Oregon and Washington just became the latest states to make striking employees eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. This marks a major policy shift for both states – especially for Washington, which currently...more

Miller Nash LLP

Washington Employers: Does That Job Really Require a Valid Driver's License?

Miller Nash LLP on

Effective July 27, 2025, employers will have to carefully consider whether they should require that employees have a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment. In 2019, Washington State enacted the Equal Protection...more

Fox Rothschild LLP

Washington State Sees Surge in Wage-and-Hour Class Actions

Fox Rothschild LLP on

Washington employers are experiencing a significant rise in wage-and-hour class action lawsuits, a trend that has accelerated with the recent entry of several California-based law firms into the state. These firms,...more

Husch Blackwell LLP

Washington Establishes New Standard for Deliberate Injury Exception in Latent Disease Cases

Husch Blackwell LLP on

In May 2025, the Supreme Court of Washington overruled previous precedent regarding the deliberate intent to injure exception related to workers’ compensation immunity for employers, finding that an employee may sue its...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

Significant Changes Are Coming to Washington's Paid Family Medical Leave Program in 2026

Employers should take note, amendments to Washington state's Paid Family and Medical Leave law (PFML) included in HB 1213 significantly broaden job restoration rights, attempt to address leave stacking issues, alter benefits...more

Littler

Washington Senate Bill 5041 Expands Unemployment Benefits to Striking and Locked-Out Workers

Littler on

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...more

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani

Recently Passed Employment Laws Will Significantly Impact Washington Employers

Recently, Washington State legislators passed several new and amended employment bills, which Governor Ferguson signed, enhancing protections for employees and increasing potential liability for employers. Employers need to...more

Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson PLLC

The Rules of Washington Noncompetition Agreements May Change Again

The enforceability of noncompetition agreements is a widely debated topic in and outside of the legal world. In just the last year, it has been a repeat topic on the floor of the Washington state legislature. States across...more

Miller Nash LLP

Washington Legislature Expands Domestic Violence Leave Act to Include Leave for Proceedings Relating to Hate Crimes

Miller Nash LLP on

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5101 into law on May 20, 2025, which will amend Washington’s Domestic Violence Leave Act (DVLA) to include job protections for employees who seek certain types of assistance...more

Epstein Becker & Green

Washington Overhauls Employment Laws on Reductions in Force and Background Checks

Epstein Becker & Green on

The Washington State Legislature has been busy as usual this session. Two bills with significant implications for employers operating in Washington have recently been signed into law by Governor Bob Ferguson: a state...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

10 New Bills Go Into Effect in July for Washington State Employers

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In its 2025 regular session, the Washington State Legislature passed 10 bills impacting employers that will come into effect this year. These legal changes affect compliance obligations, employee benefits, and protections...more

Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC

Washington Employment Law Updates

A series of employment-related bills have become law and will go into effect in the coming months and years. These new bills contain some significant changes that will likely affect most Washington employers. Understanding...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

2025 Changes to Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Program

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Washington has amended its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program by making several key changes. In a significant departure from the former landscape, the amendments extend job restoration rights to employees of...more

Miller Nash LLP

Washington Legislature Expands Worker Protections and Clarifies “Stacking” Limits for Paid Family and Medical Leave

Miller Nash LLP on

On May 17, 2025, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1213, which both expands worker protections relating to Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (PFML) and allows an employer to limit...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Warning from the Lighthouse: Washington Supreme Court Elevates Informal Wage Directives

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on

In the ever-evolving landscape of employment law, Washington employers find themselves at the crossroads of compliance and litigation, especially when it comes to handling wage complaints. The recent Washington State Supreme...more

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Washington State Employment Law: Key Legislative Changes Effective July–September 2025

Jackson Lewis P.C. on

Washington State continues to lead in progressive employment legislation with a number of new laws set to take effect in the coming months. These changes span a wide range of employment issues — from wage transparency and...more

Perkins Coie

Washington State Enacts New Notice Requirements for Business Closures and Mass Layoffs

Perkins Coie on

Key Takeaways - - The Washington state mini-WARN law, effective July 27, 2025, requires employers with 50 or more employees to provide 60 days' advance written notice of mass layoffs or business closures to the Washington...more

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