Insights Archive

Washington’s New Workplace Safety Law: What Staffing Agencies and Employers Need to Know

On April 14, 2021, Washington governor Jay Inslee signed into law Substitute House Bill (SHB) 1206, creating new requirements for staffing agencies and worksite employers utilizing temporary employees to provide training on workplace safety and health hazards. Under the new law, worksite employers must notify staffing agencies about the anticipated job hazards temporary employees will likely encounter, and provide specific training to temporary employees on those hazards.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

Washington Implements New COVID-19 Safety Rules for Farmworker Housing

On May 14, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health, in conjunction with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, created new emergency COVID-19-related safety rules that farms must implement if they provide temporary farmworker housing.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

Adam T. Pankratz Seattle Author

Washington Extends Stay-at-Home Order and Puts Plan in Place to Reopen

On May 4, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-25.3, extending Washington’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” proclamation, which was set to expire on May 4, 2020, to May 31, 2020. The governor’s office also released Washington’s Safe Start plan, detailing a four-phase approach to reopen the state in three-week intervals, which may be adjusted depending on various risk indicators.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

Laurence A. Shapero Seattle Author

Adam T. Pankratz Seattle Author

Employees at High Risk for Severe COVID-19 Illness May Be Entitled to Job Protections in Washington State

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 businesses and nonessential businesses expecting to reopen between April 13 and June 12, 2020, when the emergency proclamation expires, unless it is lawfully extended in accordance with Washington’s emergency powers laws.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

Laurence A. Shapero Seattle Author

Adam T. Pankratz Seattle Author

Washington State Suspends Wage Garnishments of Consumer Debt Judgments During COVID-19 Pandemic

On April 14, 2020, Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued Proclamation 20-49, ordering a temporary suspension of all new garnishments of consumer debt judgments, as well as a suspension of enforcement of any garnishment order already issued for a consumer debt judgment.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

Laurence A. Shapero Seattle Author

Washington Employers Must Provide Break Time and Space for Employees to Express Breast Milk

As of July 28, 2019, Washington employers with 15 or more employees are required to provide reasonable break time for employees to express breast milk.

Bensy Benjamin Seattle Author

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