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

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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

Perkins Coie

2025 Washington Legislative Employment Law Update

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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

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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

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

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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

Miller Nash LLP

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

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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

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

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

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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

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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

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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

Ballard Spahr LLP

No Small Thing: Mini-Warn Act Comes to Washington State

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Washington is the latest state to enact a “mini-WARN” Act that will require employers with 50 or more full-time employees to provide at least 60 days’ notice to the state as well as any union or employees affected by a...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard: Top 10 Employment Law Changes in Washington State

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Employers operating in Washington State must take steps quickly to comply with a slew of new labor and employment laws passed by the Washington State Legislature during the recent session. These new laws significantly expand...more

DLA Piper

New Requirements for Washington State Employers

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In recent weeks, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed numerous employment-related bills, amending employer obligations and employee rights related to pay transparency, paid leave, use of criminal records, personnel...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

New Rules for Waiving Meal Breaks in Washington Health Care Facilities

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Some Washington healthcare employers will be subject to new requirements for meal and rest breaks starting next year. Moving forward, under amended RCW 49.12.480, there are new hoops these employers must jump through in order...more

Fenwick & West LLP

New Washington Mini-WARN Act for Mass Layoffs and Business Site Closures

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Washington is the latest state to enact a Mini-Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) law. Effective July 27, 2025, the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act (SB 5525) imposes...more

Littler

Washington State Passes (Yet Another) Paid Family and Medical Leave Amendment, and It’s a Big One

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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 law, HB 1213,...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

You’ve Been WARNed: Washington Enacts a mini-WARN Law

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The new law applies to employers with 50+ employees (excluding part-time workers) and mirrors many federal WARN Act provisions, with some notable distinctions....more

Miles & Stockbridge P.C.

WARN is Coming to Washington State: What Employers Need to Know

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson on May 13 signed the Securing Timely Notification and Benefits for Laid-Off Employees Act into law. Effective July 27, this statute mirrors the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining...more

Littler

Washington Expands Covered Uses of Paid Sick Leave to Include Immigration Proceedings

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On April 25, 2025, Washington State Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 1875 into law. The amendment will become effective July 27, 2025. The new law amends Revised Code of Washington § 49.46.210 to expand the reasons for...more

Stoel Rives LLP

Key Changes for Oregon, Washington, and California Employers in 2025

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As 2024 wraps up and we look forward to 2025, below is a summary of upcoming changes in employment law that may impact employers in Oregon, Washington, and California. Many of the following updates go into effect on January...more

Perkins Coie

Coming Soon: Judicial and Agency Interpretations of Washington's Pay Disclosure Law

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Washington's Equal Pay and Opportunity Act (EPOA) is a hot topic in Washington state, with well over 100 class-action lawsuits filed under the law in the past 18 months. In short, the EPOA requires employers to disclose...more

Littler

Washington State Legislative Updates

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The Washington state legislature and certain localities recently passed several bills affecting employers, some of which have already been signed into law. These measures address non-compete agreements, mandatory...more

Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson PLLC

Washington State Paid Sick Leave Updates for 2024

Paid sick and other leave benefits are changing in 2024. Construction workers, other than workers solely working in residential building construction, who do not reach the minimum 90 days of employment with a particular...more

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