Washington Governor Jay Inslee will end the statewide COVID-19 emergency declaration on October 31, 2022, and rescind all remaining COVID-19 emergency proclamations. Despite the governor’s action, however, Washington’s Health...more
Following the lead of many other states, Washington Governor Jay Inslee has announced that the state is moving into a less restrictive phase of the COVID-19 response....more
Governor Inslee and Washington’s Department of Health have been busy the past two weeks modifying existing mask rules and enacting new vaccine requirements for certain classes of healthcare workers. There has been enough...more
Governor Jay Inslee recently signed the Health Emergency Labor Standards Act (HELSA or the Act), a sweeping worker protection bill recently passed by the state legislature. The Act amends the state’s worker’s compensation and...more
Despite the CDC’s recent news regarding relaxed mask recommendations, those Washington employers eager to return to business as usual must still comply with Governor Inslee’s May 21 “Safe Workers’ Proclamation” and Washington...more
On May 21, 2021, the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (“L&I”) published new guidance regarding fully vaccinated workers. The new guidance will help employers adjust masking policies to meet the new Centers for...more
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued Proclamation 20-25.12 and the Healthy Washington - Roadmap to Recovery Plan, which create a new two-phase, regional framework of business reopening and social distancing rules...more
To address the spread of COVID-19, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has rolled back some of the phased reopening rules in this state. The new amended Proclamation and accompanying guidance mandate several statewide...more
Washington Governor Inslee recently modified the statewide phased reopening plan with a Safe Start County-by-County plan – while also imposing new requirements on all employers by industry. The new plan gives individual...more
Washington Governor Inslee just issued a restaurant/tavern guidance to help your business prepare for Phase II of his progressive, four-phase plan to reopen the state. These new guidelines allow restaurants to re-open for...more
Washington Governor Inslee just issued a proclamation to kick off the four-phase plan to reopen the state, titled Safe Start Washington: A Phased Approach to Recovery. Each detailed phase of the plan allows additional...more
Washington State recently issued new protections for workers who are at “high risk” of severe illness or death from COVID-19. The protections, created by Governor Jay Inslee’s Proclamation 20-46, affect both essential...more
The recent COVID-19 outbreak poses numerous challenges for employers, including how to navigate the already complex requirements imposed by Washington state’s various employment and leave laws. Below we address some of the...more
Washington’s Governor Jay Inslee just issued temporary Proclamation 20-46 that requires employers to provide high-risk workers an alternative work assignment if requested to prevent exposure to COVID-19. If one is not...more
Our Seattle office has continued to update our guidance to respond to commonly asked questions and local resources for Washington employers... Do we have to close our business per the governor’s March 23 Proclamation? It...more
On Monday, March 16th, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee issued a statewide emergency proclamation to order a temporary statewide closure of all on-site food or beverage services including restaurants, bars and entertainment and...more
With Governor Inslee’s announcement Sunday evening that he would be issuing an Emergency Proclamation ordering the closure of restaurants, bars, and entertainment and recreational facilities, all Washington businesses have...more