By Alyson D. Dieckman and Molly Gabel
Seyfarth Synopsis: Washington is one of eight states[1] with a law prohibiting employers from holding mandatory meetings addressing their position on religion, politics, and union organizing.
The new statute makes it illegal for any employer to require employees to:
By Helen M. McFarland and Jacob J. Roes
Seyfarth Synopsis: 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 transparency claim under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA).
Continue Reading Much Needed Clarity May Finally Be Coming on Who Qualifies as a Job Applicant Under the Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
By Marcus Mintz and Andrew Escobar
Seyfarth Synopsis: Effective January 1, 2020, Washington enacted a noncompete statute which, among other things, required employers to satisfy notice obligations and compensation thresholds to use noncompete agreements with employees and independent contractors. As we previously described.
Washington’s original statute:
By: Lauren Parris Watts, Lisa Nichols, and Patrick Joyce
Seyfarth Synopsis: In light of the record-breaking heat wave, Washington state announced new emergency rules to provide outdoor workers with additional protections from heat exposure. These rules update the existing Outdoor Heat Exposure mandates, and are in effect as of July 13, 2021.
On July 9, 2021, Washington announced
Continue Reading Washington State Mandates Additional Protections For Outdoor Workers
By: Lisa Lehmann Nichols and Helen McFarland
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 county-by-county phased reopenings in response to the dangerous spikes of COVID-19 cases per day in Washington.
How long will this proclamation
Continue Reading State of Emergency Declared in Washington State Due to Spread of COVID-19
By Megan P. Toth and Erin Dougherty Foley
Seyfarth Synopsis: The Washington State Office of the Attorney General has recently published a Guide outlining pregnant employees’ civil rights under the Washington “Healthy Starts Act,” a law which became effective July 23, 2017.
Under the Healthy Starts Act, employers with at least 15 employees in the state of Washington
Continue Reading Washington State Releases Guide on Pregnancy Accommodations
By Joshua D. Seidman and Tracy M. Billows
Seyfarth Synopsis: As expected, on November 8, 2016, residents in Washington and Arizona voted on and passed the nation’s sixth and seventh statewide mandatory paid sick leave laws.
The 2016 election will go down as one of the most memorable elections in our lifetime. As the country scrambles to prepare for
Continue Reading 2016 Election Infected With Paid Sick Leave — Part II
By Joshua D. Seidman and Tracy M. Billows
Seyfarth Synopsis: On November 8, 2016, two states — Washington and Arizona — are poised to become the sixth and seventh states in the country to pass a statewide mandatory paid sick leave law.
The noise surrounding the 2016 election’s major party candidates has left the American public full of both
Continue Reading 2016 Election Infected With Paid Sick Leave