This website is home to the Washington State Workers’ Rights Manual and provides an easy overview of everyone’s Workplace Rights.
New COVID-19 Worker Protections - Recent changes to WA State and Seattle Laws
WA State – New COVID-19 Worker Protection Rules
WA State – New COVID-19 Worker Protection Rules – Labor & Industries (L&I) has new workplace regulations covering masks, farmworker housing, ag warehouses/packing operations, grocery stores, COVID worker’s comp coverage, and enforcement for businesses ignoring pandemic orders. See L&I’s COVID News webpage: https://www.lni.wa.gov/agency/outreach/novel-coronavirus-outbreak-covid-19-resources
Seattle – New COVID-19 Worker Protection Rules
Gig Worker Paid Sick Leave – new temporary law allows some gig workers to take paid leave to care for their own health and safety, or the health and safety of a family member, under some circumstances during the Covid-19 emergency. For more info: https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/covid-19-gig-worker-protections-/gig-worker-paid-sick-and-safe-time-ordinance?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
Hazard Pay for Food Delivery Gig Workers – Seattle’s emergency rule provides a minimum of $2.50 premium pay for gig workers delivering food and beverage meals and groceries. For more info: https://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/WASEATTLE-292d6d0?wgt_ref=WASEATTLE_WIDGET_99
Workers’ Rights in the COVID-19 Era - Webinars and Resources for Workers
COVID-19 Workers’ Rights Webinars – The Labor Center is running a series of webinars on COVID-related rights and benefits for workers. Registration info for upcoming webinars will be posted here. Pre-registration is required—an email address is required to register Registration is open to everyone. Language interpretation available..
The Labor Center’s Covid-19 webinars are permanently available on our YouTube Channel using this link: Labor Center-YouTube-playlist. View recent webinars on:
- Paid Sick and Family Medical Leave Options
- Housing Security and the Eviction Moratorium
- How to sign up for Health Insurance
- Unemployment
- Health and Safety at Work
Unemployment Resources/Links
- Unemployment Law Project
- Internet: http://unemploymentlawproject.org/covid-19/
- Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KTn0byzmHI&feature=emb_title
- Webinars every Monday at 12:00 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/729993431
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnemploymentLawProject
- FAQ Immigrant Workers’ Rights and COVID19: https://www.nelp.org/publication/faq-immigrant-workers-rights-and-covid-19/
- Employment Security Dept. (ESD) Info Sheet on COVID 19
- National Employment Law Project
- Immigrant Workers Access to Unemployment in English https://bit.ly/2QYA89d
- Immigrant Workers Access to Unemployment in Spanish: https://s27147.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/SPANISH_Immigrant-Workers-Eligibility-Unemployment-Insurance.pdf
- Washington State Facebook Unemployment Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/832600063913685
Other COVID-19 Resources
- WA State Labor Council
- COVID-19 Resource Guide: https://www.wslc.org/covid-19/ English and Espanol
- Help for Working Families: https://www.wslc.org/ffwf
- Department of Health COVID-19 information
- English: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
- Spanish: https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020COVID19/CoronavirusSpanish
- Dept. of Health Workplace COVID-19 Fact Sheet/Resources COVID-19/Workplace
- Health and Safety Resources (National) https://nationalcosh.org/coronavirus
- COVID-19 Relief Fund for WA Undocumented Folks
- Apply for help: https://www.scholarshipjunkies.org/relief
- WA Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN)
- Call the WA Immigrant Solidarity Network Hotline for up to date information for immigrants about your rights and help available with basic needs and workers’ rights during the time of the coronavirus. Call 844-724-3737 every day. Volunteers speak Spanish and English and will find support in other languages.
Llame a la Linea Directa de la Red de Solidaridad de Inmigrantes de Washington para información para inmigrantes sobre sus derechos y ayuda disponible con los necesidades básicos y los derechos de los trabajadores en la época de la coronavirus, Llame a 844-724-3737 todos los dias. Las voluntarias hablan inglés y español y encontrará ayuda en otros ideomas. - Internet: https://www.waisn.org
- Phone: (800) 844-724-3737
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WAimmigrantsolidaritynetwork/
- Call the WA Immigrant Solidarity Network Hotline for up to date information for immigrants about your rights and help available with basic needs and workers’ rights during the time of the coronavirus. Call 844-724-3737 every day. Volunteers speak Spanish and English and will find support in other languages.
For information on your rights to paid sick leave, paid family medical leave, unemployment and workers’ compensation, see our Basic Rights #1 and #2 above.
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Every year, thousands of workplace violations go unaddressed.
Use this site to make sure your rights are not being violated.
Here are your
5 basic rights in Washington
In Washington state, you have five basic rights as a worker. Click on the individual rights below for more information.
1) You have the right to be paid
Your rights to a minimum wage, tips, prevailing wage, overtime, rest breaks and scheduling. What you need to know about termination and unemployment. What to do about wage theft.
2) You have the right to take care of yourself & your family
Your rights to Sick and Safe Leave, Family, Pregnancy and other Leaves, Workers’ Compensation when injured on the job, and Disability when unable to work.
3) You have the right to be free of discrimination
Laws that protect workers from discrimination in the workplace, including who is protected and how to file discrimination complaints. How to respond to sexual harassment in the workplace.
4) You have the right to be safe at work
Your rights to a safe workplace, in the workplace, employer and employee safety responsibilities, how to enforce workplace safety, and workplace safety for undocumented workers.
5) You have the right to organize
A Voice on the Job Leads to a Better Job. How workers can organize together to improve conditions at work through a union or other organization.
Updates
Here are selected sections of the manual that have undergone recent updates.
COVID-19: Your Rights@Work
For information on your rights to paid sick leave, paid family medical leave, unemployment and workers’ compensation, see our Basic Rights #1 and #2 above. The external links below also have important information about other programs and resources you might need:
Washington Department of Health Workplace COVID-19 Fact Sheet and Resources COVID-19/Workplace
Washington State Labor Council COVID-19 Resources for Workers
COVID-19 Outbreak Resources AFL-CIO COVID-19 Resources
Teamsters COVID-19 Emergency Resources Guide: https://www.teamsters117.org/covid19
WA Employment Security’s COVID Unemployment Resource Page: https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/covid-19
Paid Family Leave
Paid Family and Medical Leave is a new benefit for employees in Washington beginning January 2020. It provides paid time off when a serious health condition prevents you from working or when workers need time to care for a family member or a new child. Paid Family and Medical Leave is available to almost everyone working in Washington. See Chapter 2.2
Minimum Wage Increase for 2020
The Washington statewide minimum wage will increase to $13.50/hour, and Seattle’s minimum hourly wage will increase to $16.39 for large employers and $13.50 to $15.75 at small employers. For more details, see Chapter 1, Your Right to be Paid
Easier to Change Jobs in the Same Industry
Beginning in 2020, Washington employers will no longer be able to use “non-compete agreements” to stop workers who earn less than $100,000 a year (or less than $250,000 a year for independent contractors) from going to work for other businesses in the same industry. These agreements have mushroomed recently in service jobs. For details, see Chapter 1.9
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