On May 20, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Substitute Senate Bill 5408 (SSB 5408), enacting important amendments to the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). The EPOA has been a hot topic in Washington after...more
5/23/2025
/ Amended Legislation ,
Damages ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Employer Responsibilities ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Labor Reform ,
Pay Transparency ,
State Labor Laws ,
Wage and Hour ,
Washington
The Washington Supreme Court recently entertained oral arguments in Branson v. Washington Fine Wines on the following certified question from the W.D. Washington regarding the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”)...more
Seattle continues to expand protections for app-based workers (sometimes referred to as “gig workers”) working within the City of Seattle with its new App-Based Worker Deactivation Rights Ordinance....more
12/27/2024
/ Employee Benefits ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Freelance Workers ,
Gig Economy ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Reform ,
Labor Regulations ,
Local Ordinance ,
Mobile Apps ,
Paid Sick Leave ,
Paid Time Off (PTO) ,
Safe Time ,
Seattle ,
Wage and Hour
On August 20, 2024, Western District of Washington Judge John H. Chun asked the Washington Supreme Court to answer the question of what a party must prove to be considered a “job applicant” for the purposes of a pay...more
8/27/2024
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Equal Pay ,
Equal Pay Act ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Job Ads ,
Job Applicants ,
Pay Equity Laws ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Salary/Wage History ,
State Labor Laws ,
WA Supreme Court ,
Wage and Hour
Seyfarth Synopsis: The use of contracting arrangements is widespread; however, around the world, we are seeing trends suggesting this type of work arrangement may become more restricted, higher cost or higher risk to...more
9/11/2023
/ Australia ,
Background Screening Services ,
Contractors ,
Employee Rights ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Foreign Jurisdictions ,
Hiring & Firing ,
Independent Contractors ,
Labor Code ,
Wage and Hour ,
Wages
Just in time for implementation of the hotly anticipated Washington salary posting requirements, the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (“L&I”) released its final administrative policy regarding the...more
On March 24, 2022, Washington state Governor Inslee signed into law Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1795 (The Silenced No More Act) (“ESHB 1795”). Washington now becomes the second state (after California) to render...more
Seyfarth Synopsis – On September 1, 2022, a City of Seattle ordinance will go into effect providing protections to persons and entities engaging as independent contractors within City limits. Overview of Ordinance On...more
Last week, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”), the state agency that enforces labor standards, rolled out a new administrative policy related to employment relationships under the Minimum Wage Act (the...more
On November 15, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee again amended his previously issued Proclamation 20-25, which proclaimed a state of emergency associated with the spread of COVID-19. Proclamation 20-25.8 rolls back...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On January 1, 2021, Washington’s minimum wage will increase and will trigger the first in a series of increased salary thresholds for exempt employees, which will continue through 2028. These upcoming...more
11/11/2020
/ Employer Liability Issues ,
Exempt-Employees ,
Labor Regulations ,
Minimum Wage ,
Over-Time ,
Rest and Meal Break ,
Salaried Employees ,
State and Local Government ,
State Labor Laws ,
Threshold Requirements ,
Wage and Hour ,
White-Collar Exemptions
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Washington Supreme Court refused to enforce a mandatory arbitration agreement that was contained within an Employee Handbook. ...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) issued its first citation against an employer for violating Washington’s Safe Start Order....more
Seyfarth Synopsis: The State of Washington’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) just enacted Emergency COVID-19 Safety Rules on “Prohibited Business Activities and Conditions for Operations.”...more
On April 13, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee amended his previously issued Order 20-05, which proclaimed a state of emergency associated with the spread of COVID-19. The amended Order 20-05 provides protections for...more
4/14/2020
/ Business Interruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Inslee ,
Guidance Update ,
Operators of Essential Services ,
Policy Updates ,
Shelter-In-Place ,
Social Distancing
On March 23, 2020, Washington’s Governor, Jay Inslee, issued Executive Order 20-25 requiring all people in Washington to “Stay Home” to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Until midnight on April 6, 2020, unless extended,...more