Title 49 — Title 49 LABOR REGULATIONS
40 chapters · 645 sections in this title.
RCW 49.58.005 Findings—Intent.
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(1) The legislature finds that despite existing equal pay laws, there continues to be a gap in wages and advancement opportunities among workers in Washington, especially women and workers in other protected classes. Income disparities limit the ability of these workers to provid…
RCW 49.58.010 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Compensation" means discretionary and nondiscretionary wages and benefits provided by an employer to an employee as a result of the employment relationship.(2) "Depart…
RCW 49.58.020 Wage discrimination based on gender or membership in other protected class prohibited—Penalty—Civil recovery.
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(1) Any employer in this state who discriminates in any way in providing compensation based on a person's gender or membership in a protected class between similarly employed employees of the employer is guilty of a misdemeanor. If any employee receives less compensation because …
RCW 49.58.030 Finding—When career advancement limited by gender or membership in other protected class—Remedies—Complaint—Penalties.
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(1) The legislature finds that equality of opportunity for advancement is key to reducing income disparities based on gender and memberships in protected classes. The legislature further finds that using gender or membership in a protected class as a factor in advancement contrib…
RCW 49.58.040 Certain employer conduct prohibited—Employee not required to disclose compensation.
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(1) An employer may not:(a) Require nondisclosure by an employee of his or her wages as a condition of employment; or(b) Require an employee to sign a waiver or other document that prevents the employee from disclosing the amount of the employee's wages.(2) An employer may not di…
RCW 49.58.050 Employer retaliation prohibited.
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An employer may not retaliate, discharge, or otherwise discriminate against an employee because the employee has filed any complaint, or instituted or caused to be instituted any proceeding under this chapter, or has testified or is about to testify in any such proceeding, or bec…
RCW 49.58.060 Complaint by employee—Investigation by director—Resolving the violation—Penalties.
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(1) Upon complaint by an employee, the director must investigate to determine if there has been compliance with RCW 49.58.020, 49.58.040, and 49.58.050, and the rules adopted under this chapter. The director, upon complaint, may also initiate an investigation on behalf of one or …
RCW 49.58.070 Employee may bring civil action—Damages and relief.
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(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, an employee may bring a civil action against an employer for violation of RCW 49.58.020 and 49.58.030 through 49.58.050 for actual damages; statutory damages equal to the actual damages or five thousand dollars, whichever is greater;…
RCW 49.58.080 Violation of chapter—Adoption of discriminatory compensation decision or other practice.
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A violation of this chapter occurs when a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice is adopted, when an individual becomes subject to a discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, or when an individual is affected by application of a discriminatory compen…
RCW 49.58.090 Rules.
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The department may adopt rules to implement this chapter.[ 2025 c 115 s 2; 2018 c 116 s 11.]
RCW 49.58.100 Employer seeking wage and salary history of applicants prohibited—Remedies.
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(1) An employer may not:(a) Seek the wage or salary history of an applicant for employment from the applicant or a current or former employer; or(b) Require that an applicant's prior wage or salary history meet certain criteria, except as provided in subsection (2) of this sectio…
RCW 49.58.110 Disclosure of wage or salary range by employer—When required—Violations—Remedies.
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(1) Required disclosures in postings.(a) The employer must disclose in each posting for each job opening: (i) The wage scale or salary range, except where the employer is offering only a fixed wage amount for the opening, the employer must disclose the fixed wage amount rather th…
RCW 49.58.120 Employer driving requirements.
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(1) Unless driving is one of the essential job functions or is related to a legitimate business purpose for a position, it is unlawful for an employer to:(a) Require a valid driver's license as a condition of employment; or(b) Include a statement in a posting for a job opening fo…
RCW 49.58.900 Department of labor and industries materials and outreach.
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The department must develop educational materials and conduct outreach to inform individuals and businesses of the new provisions related to discrimination based on membership in a protected class.[ 2024 c 353 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—2024 c 353: See note following RCW 49.58.020…