Washington Workers Get a Boost: New Minimum Wage and Salary Thresholds for 2026
Good news for Washington employees — the state minimum wage is set to increase to $17.13 per hour in 2026. The 2.8% rise reflects ongoing inflation adjustments that keep workers’ earnings aligned with real living costs. The new year will also bring a higher salary threshold for overtime exemption, now $1,541.70 per week, ensuring that more salaried employees qualify for overtime pay. Even rideshare drivers will see pay increases, with updated per-minute and per-mile rates. Wa
When Persistence Pays: Xerox Call Center Employees Secure $9.1M
More than 5,700 Xerox employees have proven that perseverance matters. After over a decade in court, workers secured a $9.1 million settlement over claims that Xerox’s compensation structure violated minimum wage laws. The suit challenged the legality of the ABC plan—a performance-based system that allegedly underpaid employees. Even workers dismissed from the case earlier this year will share in the outcome. This historic result shows that when workers stand together, the la
New Worker Protections Set to Take Effect in Washington State
Effective July 1 and July 27, 2025, Washington State will implement new employment protections designed to promote equitable workplace practices and enhance employee rights. HB 1905 extends anti-discrimination coverage to include additional protected characteristics such as national origin, citizenship status, and disability. HB 1747 prohibits inquiries into criminal history before a conditional offer of employment and requires employers to provide a legitimate business reaso
Fairness Without Labels: Supreme Court Expands Protection Against Workplace Discrimination
The U.S. Supreme Court has clarified a powerful message for employers: discrimination laws protect everyone — not just minorities. In a unanimous decision, the Court sided with an Ohio woman who claimed she was passed over for promotion and later demoted because she is straight. Writing for the Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson stated that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act applies equally to all individuals, regardless of whether they are in a majority or minority group. T
Know Your File, Know Your Rights: New Bill Empowers Washington Workers
Washington’s House Bill 1308 is transforming how employees access their personnel files. Sponsored by a robust coalition of legislators, the bill requires private employers to provide current and former employees with a copy of their personnel records within 21 days of a request—at no cost. It also mandates written discharge statements upon request and introduces statutory damages if employers fail to comply. This law aims to close loopholes in existing access rules and provi
