Nonprofit Quick Tip: State Filings in Washington and Oregon
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
In 2018, Washington enacted a Fair Chance Act, requiring covered employers to wait until after considering an applicant to be “otherwise qualified” for the position at issue to inquire about or consider criminal history when...more
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
On August 5, 2024, the Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, demonstrated the difficulty for property owners to challenge a local government’s decision to pass the cost of city improvements to them. In SHG Garage SPE et...more
Washington Governor Jay Inslee recently signed Senate Bill 5935 into law, amending and expanding Washington’s statute restricting the enforceability of noncompetition covenants (Revised Code of Washington 49.2). The amended...more
On January 12, 2024, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser approved a new set of pay transparency requirements for D.C. employers that will take effect on June 30, 2024. The Pay Scale and Benefits Disclosure Amendment Act...more
This month, dozens of class action lawsuits have been filed in Washington, based on alleged violations of Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunity Act. Employers recruiting or planning to recruit for any position in...more
On July 23, 2023, changes to Washington's construction defect notice statute, RCW 64.50.020, took effect. The new requirements apply to construction defect notices sent on behalf of condominium associations. But does the...more
The District of Columbia is joining the increasing number of jurisdictions providing greater protections for private employees who use marijuana off duty, during non-work hours. Such development remains in contrast with...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
As a reminder, by Dec. 31, 2022 all Washington D.C. employers that take a tip credit must comply with D.C.’s Tipped Wage Workers Fairness Amendment Act (TWWF). As explained below, by the end of this year covered employers...more
All changes to the Open Public Meetings Act (“OPMA”) under ESHB 1329 are now in effect. Here’s what you need to know....more
California Lawmakers Propose a Four-Day Workweek - The California State Assembly introduced AB 2932, a bill that would shorten the regular workweek for California workers from 40 hours to 32 hours for businesses with 500+...more
Governor Inslee’s March 24, 2022 signing of House Bill 1329 marks the introduction of changes to the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), the focus of which concerns public meetings’ accessibility and participation in the same....more