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Washington
State Increase Minimum Wage & Authorize Sick Leave |
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The people
of
Washington
state
decided to
vote
yes
in
the 2016
referendum
to increase
the minimum
wage
from
$9.47 to
$13.50 and
require
employers
to provide
paid sick
leave.
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The increases
will take
place annually
between
2017
and
2020 as
follows:
-$11.00
- 1 January 2017
-$11.50 -
1 January 2018
-$12.00 - 1
January 2019
-$13.50 - 1 January
2020
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Beginning in
January
2021 future
increases
in the
minimum
wage will
be tied
to the
Consumer
Price Index
(CPI).
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Tips and
service
charges
paid to
an employee
are
in addition
to,
and may
not count
towards,
the
employee's
hourly
minimum
wage.
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Beginning January
1, 2018,
every
employer
must
provide
to each
of its
employees
paid sick
leave.
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Employers
must
give
their employees
at least
one hour
of paid
sick leave
for
every
forty
hours
worked.
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Employers may also provide paid sick leave in advance of
accrual.
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An employer
may
require
verification
from
the
employee
when more
than 3
days
of sick
leave
is
requested.
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Unused
paid sick
leave
carries
over
to the
following
year,
except
that an
employer
is not
required
to allow
an employee
to carry
over
paid sick
leave
in excess
of
forty
hours.
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Under this
law
an employer
is not
required
to
provide
financial
or other
reimbursement
for
accrued and
unused
paid sick
leave
to any
employee
upon the
employee's
termination,
resignation,
retirement,
or other
separation
from
employment.
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When there
is a
separation
from
employment
and
the employee
is
rehired
within twelve
months of
separation
by
the same
employer,
whether at
the same
or a
different
business
location of
the employer,
previously
accrued unused
paid sick
leave
shall be
reinstated
and the
previous
period of
employment
shall be
counted
for
purposes
of determining
the employee's
eligibility
to use
paid
sick leave.
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Violations of
this law
will
result
in the
employer
being
charged with
a gross
misdemeanour
and
subjected
to paying
legal
fees
and fully
paying
any
unpaid
amounts
to their
enployees.
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See other States minimum wages. |
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Sources:
Washington
State
Ballot
Initiative
1433
Washington
State
Secretary
of
State Website
By Bill
Williams
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