Washington Law Updates 2025 Midyear
The following changes to Washington employment law take effect on July 27, 2025, unless otherwise noted.
Equal Pay and Opportunities Act Expanded
Starting July 1, 2025, pay inequity and discrimination in career advancement will be illegal when based on any protected class—not just gender. The regulations have also been updated to include protections based on perceived gender or protected class. Protected classes include age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability.
Paid Sick Leave Uses Include Immigration Proceedings
Paid sick leave will cover leave to prepare for or take part in immigration proceedings involving an employee or their family member.
Personnel Records
Personnel records must be provided free of charge and within 21 days of a request. The law now defines what documents are considered part of a personnel file. Employers must also provide a signed statement with a former employee's discharge date and reason for discharge (if any) within 21 days of receiving a written request for this information.
Limits on Driver's License Requirements
Employers can't require a driver's license as a condition of employment or state that applicants must have a driver's license in a job posting. There's an exception if driving is an essential function of the job (like for a delivery driver) or is related to a legitimate business purpose for the position.
New Mini-Warn Act
Employers with 50 or more full-time employees in the state will need to provide 60 days' written notice to each employee in the event of a mass layoff or business closure that causes loss of employment for 50 or more full-time employees. More information is available on the platform, but if you're planning a mass layoff, it's advisable to consult with an attorney as well.
Local Minimum Wages
The following minimum wage increases take effect July 1, 2025:
Burien - $20.16 for Level 2 employers-those with 21-499 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees in King County.
Renton - $19.90 for mid-size employers-those with 15-500 employees or that have annual gross revenue of over $2 million generated within the city limits of Renton.
Tukwila - $21.10 for mid-size employers-those with 15-500 employees or annual gross revenue of over $2 million generated within the city limits of Tukwila.
Action Items:
Update your paid sick leave policy to include immigration proceedings
Ensure your HR personnel know what documents are covered in an employee file and that they have just 21 days to provide the records if requested
Remove any driver's license requirement from your job ads, applications, and other communications, unless the exception applies.