Employment Law in Motion
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Washington Employment Security Department Publishes Template 2026 PFML Notices
As we previously shared, effective January 1, 2026, Washington House Bill 1213 expanded worker protections under Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program (PFML) and allows employers to limit employees’ ability to “stack” their job restoration benefits under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and PFML. Among the many changes to PFML, HB 1213 added two new employer notice requirements. Just recently, Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD) published template notices that employers may tailor to particular circumstances. The PFML notice requirements—and the associated template notice—are summarized below.
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Washington State Minimum Wage 2026 Update, Including Jurisdictions Exceeding the State’s Minimum Wage
Washington State has announced its new minimum wage, exempt salary level, and other compensation levels for 2026. All of the following will be in effect as of January 1, 2026:
Washington State minimum wage: $17.13 per hourTo be exempt from overtime a...
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Washington Enacts Mini-WARN Act Law
Effective July 27, 2025, Washington joins many other states that have their own “mini-WARN Act.” Consequently, employers considering layoffs in Washington state need to review both the federal WARN Act and Washington’s new mini-WARN Act to see if the layoff is covered, and if so, to ensure compliance with all requirements under either (or both) statutes.
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Washington State Job Posting Requirements: Some Upcoming Changes in Enforcement
The Washington Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“the Act”) endeavors to prohibit pay discrimination and promote fairness among workers by addressing business practices that may contribute to income disparities between employees. In addition to protections against discriminatory pay practices, the Act protects the rights of employees to discuss their wages and related information.
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Washington Employers: Does That Job Really Require a Valid Driver's License?
Effective July 27, 2025, employers will have to carefully consider whether they should require that employees have a valid driver’s license as a condition of employment.
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Washington Employment Odds and Ends: Assorted Changes that Will Affect Some Employers
The Washington State Legislature passed several assorted bills that will affect certain Washington employers, including providing striking workers with limited unemployment benefits, changes to laws regarding minor workers, adding requirements for employers with isolated employees, and enacting additional protections on employee immigration status. Read on for a detailed breakdown of these legislative changes and what they could mean for your business.
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