Worker Retaliation Claim Leads to $23 Million Jury Verdict Against Walmart
In Garcia v. Walmart Inc., a federal jury in Washington awarded former Walmart employee Andrea Garcia $23 million after finding Walmart liable for retaliation under Title VII. Garcia alleged she was fired after reporting sexual harassment involving coworkers and escalating her concerns to Walmart’s ethics department. The jury awarded $500,000 in compensatory damages and $22.5 million in punitive damages, finding that Walmart’s conduct was malicious, oppressive, or recklessly
Paid Family and Medical Leave Premium Allocation Changes
Effective June 11, 2026, Washington amended its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) premium structure through HB 2345 in response to recent Internal Revenue Service guidance. The legislation modifies how employer and employee contributions are allocated between the family leave and medical leave portions of the program while maintaining the overall premium rate. According to the Employment Security Department, the changes are intended to reduce federal tax consequences for e
Washington Prohibits Employer-Mandated Microchipping
Effective June 11, 2026, Washington employers may not request, require, or coerce employees or job applicants to have a microchip or other tracking device implanted in their bodies as a condition of employment. The new law reflects growing concerns regarding employee privacy, bodily autonomy, and workplace surveillance technologies. Employees who believe their rights have been violated may bring a civil action seeking injunctive relief, actual damages, punitive damages, and r
