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Dickinson Wright

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

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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 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

Jackson Lewis P.C.

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

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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

Miller Nash LLP

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

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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

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

Littler

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

Littler on

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

Littler

Washington State Enacts New Legislation to Define Employee Access to Their Personnel Records and Termination Information

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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...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

Buchalter

Class Action Alert: “Conflict of Interest” Policies Are the Newest Trend for Class Action Lawsuits Against Employers in Washington...

Buchalter on

Following a recent Washington Supreme Court decision, plaintiffs’ attorneys in Washington are targeting a new type of class action claim against employers: alleged violations of Washington’s noncompetition statute based on...more

Tonkon Torp LLP

Washington Poised to Update Personnel File Production Requirements

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This week, the Washington Legislature passed HB 1308, a bill that, if signed into law, will change Washington employer’s responsibilities for personnel file requests. While not yet in effect, the governor will likely sign the...more

Littler

Washington’s Amended Fair Chance Act Will Impose Additional Obligations on Covered Employers

Littler on

Washington State has an existing fair chance law (discussed here) but the statute, as amended by HB 1747, will impose additional obligations on employers that consider criminal records when vetting job applicants or...more

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Washington Amends Employee Personnel File Access Laws

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The Washington Legislature has passed a new law affecting employers’ obligations related to employee personnel files.  The new law amends RCW 49.12.240 and 49.12.250 in four important ways...more

Perkins Coie

Washington Supreme Court Denies Appeal of Meal Period Penalty Case

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In October 2024 we wrote about the Washington State Court of Appeals’ opinion in Androckitis v. Virginia Mason Medical Center, which held that the remedy for meal period violations includes three components: (1) payment of...more

Fisher Phillips

Washington Supreme Court Significantly Limits Moonlighting Restrictions for Low Wage Employees: Your 4-Step Plan for Compliance

Fisher Phillips on

In a first-of-its-kind decision, the Washington Supreme Court took aim at the ability of employers to prevent low wage employees in the state from “moonlighting” or otherwise supplementing their income during their...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

New Paid Sick Leave and Minimum Wage Laws in Washington State Effective January 1

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Multiple new laws will take effect in Washington state beginning January 2024, bringing changes to the state’s minimum wage laws and adding requirements under the state’s Paid Sick Leave Law. ...more

Perkins Coie

New Washington Law Protects Job Applicants’ Off-Duty Marijuana Use

Perkins Coie on

Beginning in 2024, both Washington and California will prohibit employers from basing hiring decisions on an applicant’s legal marijuana use. What Is Prohibited? Effective January 1, 2024, employers are prohibited...more

Fisher Phillips

New Washington Law Targets Warehouse Production Quotas: Top 10 Questions for Employers and Staffing Agencies

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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

Littler

Washington Amends Law to Protect Off-Duty Marijuana Use in 2024

Littler on

On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Governor Inslee signed into law Senate Bill No. 5123, which will protect prospective employees from discrimination in hiring due to their lawful, off-duty use of marijuana. With this law, Washington...more

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

[Webinar] Washington and Oregon Leave Programs - June 29th, 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm PT

Many employers and employees remain confused by the intricacies of Oregon and Washington state’s leave programs. In this webinar, our speakers will provide an overview of Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)...more

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