Employment Law in Spokane, WA

If you have suffered treatment from an employer in Spokane, Washington that violates employment laws, learning more about the law can help. Hiring an employment law attorney can best help you navigate the process, and increase the chances of winning your case.

What Is Employment Law?

Employment law covers the rights, responsibilities, and obligations within the employer-employee relationship. Employment lawyers serve both employees and employers, though they generally focus their practice on serving one or the other. Regardless of who their clients are, their goal is to present a solid case and defend them.

Understanding Employment Law Labor Rights in Spokane, Washington

Employees have a wide range of rights that employers cannot violate. If employers violate these rights, workers can file a complaint against them. Each state has unique labor laws and some also make provisions for qualifying independent contractors. Below are the most common topics covered in employment law across the country.

Wage and Hour Laws

Laws protect non-exempt employees from being forced to work for low wages and a certain amount of hours without increased pay. These are the wage and hour laws. They outline the minimum wages an employee can earn as well as the maximum amount of hours worked before qualifying employees should get paid overtime.

Washington, like every other state, has unique wage and hour laws. However, there are federal laws in place that are minimum requirements for all states. For example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25, but most states exceed that amount.

The Fair Labor Standards Act states that non-exempt employees can only work 40 hours per week at their regular wage rates. If they exceed that number, the employer must pay them overtime rates at a minimum of time and a half. Some states also require weekend overtime pay, holiday pay, and overtime for working more than a certain number of hours each day.

The current minimum wage in Spokane is $13.69 per hour. This is due to the Washington State Legislature’s passage of Initiative 1433 in 2016. This statute increases the minimum wage to reflect the cost of living in the state. However, it should be noted that certain cities have instituted higher minimum wages than the state mandate. For example, Seattle’s minimum wage sits at $16.69.

Workers’ Compensation

If you’ve been injured on the job in Spokane, WA you might be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. This includes payments for lost wages and past or future medical bills that resulted from your workplace injury.

To be eligible for workers’ compensation, you must meet these requirements:

  • You must be an employee.
  • You must have a work-related illness or injury.
  • Your employer must carry workers’ comp insurance.
  • You must meet the deadline for filing workers’ comp claims.

There are, however, exceptions to these requirements that may still make you eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. However, if your employer is denying you benefits, you should contact a qualified employment lawyer in Spokane for assistance with your case.

Termination Rights under Spokane, Washington Employment Law

If you live in an at-will state, or your employment is “at-will,” meaning you can be terminated from your job without notice and cause. However, even at-will employees have rights when it comes to termination. A violation of those rights can be a wrongful termination.

Here are some reasons your termination might be wrongful even if you are an at-will employee:

  • Written promises or contracts
  • Implied promises
  • Violations of public policy
  • Breaches of good faith and fair dealing
  • Workplace retaliation
  • Discrimination
  • Defamation
  • Fraud
  • Whistleblowing violations

Washington is not a right-to-work state. However, the Supreme Court recently ruled that employees who opt out of a union cannot be forced to pay union dues.

If you believe your termination was wrongful due to the above circumstances, then contact an experienced Spokane, WA employment law attorney right away. This is because there are time constraints on how long you can wait to file a claim.

Unemployment Benefits

If you’ve lost your job, you can file for unemployment benefits with the state unemployment agency. The agency will either approve or deny your claim. If it’s approved, you’ll receive monthly unemployment checks and benefits in the mail after filing weekly unemployment claims. Still, unemployment claims can be denied for several reasons, including:

  • If you were fired for misconduct.
  • You voluntarily quit your job.
  • You do not have enough earnings during the work period.

If your claim is denied, you can appeal the decision if you think it’s the wrong choice. Work with a qualified Spokane attorney during the appeal process to improve your chances of winning the case.

Paid and Unpaid Time Off

Some states require paid time off as well as medical and family leave for employees. Oftentimes, this is combined into one singular paid time off, (PTO), amount. Laws can vary from state to state, but typically PTO is accrued over time and you’ll get a set amount of PTO days per year.

Additionally, some states have laws that force the employer to pay for unused PTO. If you are not given proper PTO or your employer doesn’t follow your state’s medical or family leave laws, you can file a complaint.

Paid Sick Leave is available to most Spokane employees, whether they work full-time, part-time, or hold temporary employment. 1 hour of paid sick leave is accrued for every 40 hours worked. However, the state mandate does not cover federal employees working in Spokane.

Child Labor Laws

Child labor laws are a lot more strict than regular labor laws and require employers to be extra careful when scheduling minors. Each state has its own child labor laws that outline the number of hours a minor can work per week. These include how often they should have breaks, how many days in a row they can work, and how late they can work each night.

According to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, minors of different ages can work different hours in Spokane. Minors aged 16-17 can work 6 days a week. In these 6 days, they can work 8 hours per day, up to 48 hours per week in a non-school week. However, minors aged 14-15 can only work 40 hours in a non-school week.

Spokane, Washington Employment Anti Discrimination Laws

A collection of federal anti-discrimination laws protects workers from employment discrimination. Following are brief descriptions of some of these anti-discrimination acts:

  • Title VII of the Civil Rights Act: Prohibits employers from selecting job applicants and employees based on race, religion, color, sex, and national origin.
  • Age Discrimination Act: Prohibits discrimination based on age for employees over the age of 40 years old.
  • Pregnancy Discrimination Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating based on pregnancy, childbirth, or a related condition.
  • Americans with Disabilities Act: Prohibits employers from discriminating against people with disabilities at any time during the application or hiring process or once the person holds the job.
  • Equal Pay Act: Requires employers to give men and women equal pay for equal work.

Sexual Harassment

If a coworker, employer, or client sexually harasses someone in the workplace; the employee has a set of rights to protect them from further harassment. Laws also offer protection from retaliation, such as getting fired for reporting a manager. If you or someone you know is facing sexual harassment in the workplace, report it to your HR department.

The Attorney General of Washington states that sexual harassment is a form of illegal discrimination. Any request for sexual favors, unwelcome advances, or unwanted behavior of a sexual nature all fall under the heading of harassment and are strictly prohibited.

Work With an Experienced Employment Attorney in Spokane

If you have employment law concerns, or you’re currently preparing for a case in Spokane, WA then working with an experienced attorney can help. The hard part is finding the right one. We can even help you connect with an attorney across Washington state lines.

Submit a request online or call us today at (866) 345-6784 to get in touch with an experienced employment attorney in Spokane!

How It All Works

Call us or answer the questions on this site. Your category, location, and additional information will help us connect you to a legal professional and we’ll send you the results instantly.

Which Areas of Law?

We have attorneys in over 20 legal categories to choose from.

How Much Does This Cost?

We don’t charge you to be connected. Some legal categories require upfront fees while others do not. The legal professional will determine this with you before you commit to anything.