Title 49 — Title 49 LABOR REGULATIONS

(1)(a) When any employer pays an employee's wages with any instrument defined by RCW 62A.3-104 that is subsequently returned for nonsufficient funds, the employer shall reimburse the employee for a fee charged by the employee's financial institution for the dishonored instrument …

Any person, firm, or corporation which violates any of the provisions of RCW 49.48.010 through 49.48.030 and 49.48.060 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.[ 1971 ex.s. c 55 s 2; 1933 ex.s. c 20 s 1; 1888 c 128 s 2; RRS s 7595.]Notes:Wages—Deductions—Rebates, authorized withholding: …

In any action in which any person is successful in recovering judgment for wages or salary owed to him or her, reasonable attorney's fees, in an amount to be determined by the court, shall be assessed against said employer or former employer: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this section …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6058.SL) ***(1) The department of labor and industries may:(a) Upon obtaining information indicating an employer may be committing a violation under chapters 39.12, 49.46, and 49.48 RCW, conduct investigations to ensure compliance with chapters 39.12, …

Nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit the authority of the prosecuting attorney of any county to prosecute actions, both civil and criminal, for such violations of RCW 49.48.040 through 49.48.080 as may come to his or her knowledge, or to enforce the provisions her…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ***(1) If upon investigation by the director, after taking assignments of any wage claim under RCW 49.48.040 or after receiving a wage complaint as defined in RCW 49.48.082 from an employee, it appears to the director that the employer is re…

It shall be the duty of the director of labor and industries to inquire diligently for any violations of RCW 49.48.040 through 49.48.080, and to institute the actions for penalties herein provided, and to enforce generally the provisions of RCW 49.48.040 through 49.48.080.[ 1935 …

(1) The director of labor and industries, or the director's designee, may enter into reciprocal agreements with the labor department or corresponding agency of any other state or with the person, board, officer, or commission authorized to act on behalf of such department or agen…

Nothing in RCW 49.48.040 through 49.48.080 shall apply to the payment of wages or compensation of employees directly employed by any county, incorporated city or town, or other municipal corporation. Nor shall anything herein apply to employees, directly employed by the state, an…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 49.48.083 through 49.48.086:(1) "Citation" means a written determination by the department that a wage payment requirement has been violated.(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.(3) "De…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6058.SL) ****** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 6039-S.SL) ****** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2479-S2.SL) ***(1) If an employee files a wage complaint with the department, the department shall investigate the wage complaint. Unless otherwise resolved, the departme…

(1) A person, firm, or corporation aggrieved by a citation and notice of assessment or a determination of compliance issued by the department under RCW 49.48.083 or the assessment of civil penalty due to a determination of status as a repeat willful violator may appeal the citati…

(1) An employee who has filed a wage complaint with the department may elect to terminate the department's administrative action, thereby preserving any private right of action, by providing written notice to the department within ten business days after the employee's receipt of…

(1) After a final order is issued under RCW 49.48.084, if an employer defaults in the payment of: (a) Any wages determined by the department to be owed to an employee, including interest; or (b) any civil penalty ordered by the department under RCW 49.48.083, the director may fil…

The director may adopt rules to carry out the purposes of RCW 49.48.082 through 49.48.086.[ 2006 c 89 s 6.]Notes:Captions not law—2006 c 89: See note following RCW 49.48.082.

No assignment of, or order for, wages to be earned in the future to secure a loan of less than three hundred dollars, shall be valid against an employer of the person making said assignment or order unless said assignment or order is accepted in writing by the employer, and said …

No assignment of, or order for, wages to be earned in the future shall be valid, when made by a married person, unless the written consent of the other spouse to the making of such assignment or order is attached thereto.[ 1972 ex.s. c 108 s 7; 1909 c 32 s 2; RRS s 7598.]

For the purposes of RCW 49.48.120 the word "employer" shall include every person, firm, partnership, corporation, the state of Washington, and all municipal corporations.[ 1939 c 139 s 1; RRS s 1464-1. Formerly RCW 49.48.120, part.]

(1) If at the time of the death of any person, his or her employer is indebted to him or her for work, labor, and services performed, and no executor or administrator of his or her estate has been appointed, the employer shall upon the request of the surviving spouse pay the inde…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 2479-S2.SL) ***(1) The department shall assess a civil penalty against any repeat willful violator in an amount of not less than one thousand dollars or an amount equal to ten percent of the total amount of unpaid wages, whichever is greater. The maxim…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout RCW 49.48.160 through 49.48.190.(1) "Commission" means compensation paid a sales representative by a principal in an amount based on a percentage of the dollar amount of certain orders…

(1) A contract between a principal and a sales representative under which the sales representative is to solicit wholesale orders within this state must be in writing and must set forth the method by which the sales representative's commission is to be computed and paid. The prin…

A principal shall pay wages and commissions at the usual place of payment unless the sales representative requests that the wages and commissions be sent through registered mail. If, in accordance with a request by the sales representative, the sales representative's wages and co…

A principal who is not a resident of this state and who enters into a contract subject to RCW 49.48.150 through 49.48.190 is considered to be doing business in this state for purposes of the exercise of personal jurisdiction over the principal.[ 1992 c 177 s 4.]Notes:Severability…

(1) RCW 49.48.150 through 49.48.190 supplement but do not supplant any other rights and remedies enjoyed by sales representatives.(2) A provision of RCW 49.48.150 through 49.48.190 may not be waived, whether by express waiver or by attempt to make a contract or agreement subject …

(1) Debts due the state or a county or city for the overpayment of wages to their respective employees may be recovered by the employer by deductions from subsequent wage payments as provided in RCW 49.48.210, or by civil action. If the overpayment is recovered by deduction from …

(1) Except as provided in subsection (10) of this section, when an employer determines that an employee was overpaid wages, the employer shall provide written notice to the employee. The notice shall include the amount of the overpayment, the basis for the claim, a demand for pay…

The office of financial management shall adopt the rules necessary to implement chapter 77, Laws of 2003.[ 2003 c 77 s 3.]

For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …