

Jury Awards $237 Million in Landmark Workplace Discrimination Case
In a historic ruling, a Yakima jury awarded over $237 million to Tahvio Gratton, a former UPS driver who sued the company for racial discrimination and a hostile work environment. Gratton alleged he faced repeated mistreatment, including being called racial slurs by a supervisor and receiving less favorable assignments. Despite previous grievances, he was fired in 2021 over a disputed sexual harassment allegation. The jury awarded Gratton $39.6 million for emotional distress


Updates to Paid Sick Leave Law Expand Employee Rights
Starting January 1, 2025, Washington's Paid Sick Leave ("PSL") law will broaden its scope, expanding the definition of "family" to include individuals residing in the employee’s home and those with a care-based relationship. Additionally, "child" now consists of the spouse of the employee’s child. Employees can also use paid sick leave for school closures due to emergencies declared by the government beyond health-related reasons.


New Protections Under Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act
Effective July 1, 2025, Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act ("EPOA") will extend protections to cover additional categories,...























