Employment and Work

What are your basic rights in employment and at work?

Right to be Free from Harassment

Workers have the right to a workplace free of sexual harassment, and free of discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, age, family status, sexual orientation, disability or appearance of disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Right to receive equal pay for equal work

Minimum wage in Washington state is $14.49 per hour. Minimum wage in Seattle is $17.227 per hour if you work for a large company or chain. Higher minimum wages apply for some jobs in SeaTac.

Right to receive reasonable accommodations 

You have the right to reasonable accommodations (change the way things are normally done at work) for medical reasons or religious beliefs, if required by law.

Right to take sick time

Workers in WA state get 1 hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours of work. You can use your earned sick time if you are sick, need to go to a doctor appointment, need to take care of a sick family member, or for leave related to domestic violence.

Right to medical confidentiality

You have the right to expect that any medical information or genetic information that is shared with employers will be confidential.

Right to report discrimination

You have the right to report discrimination, as well as to participate in investigations of discrimination or lawsuits or oppose discrimination (threaten to file a discrimination complaint, without being retaliated against (punished) for doing so.