Seattle Washington’s minimum wage will increase on January 1, 2020.
Minimum Wage Rates:
Seattle employers with 500 or fewer employees (“small employers”) will be required to pay non-exempt employees who work in Seattle at least $15.75 per hour. If the small employer pays at least $2.25/hour towards the employee’s medical benefits and/or their employee earns at least $2.25 in tips, the minimum wage drops to $13.50/hour.
Seattle employers with more than 500 employees will be required to pay non-exempt employees at least $16.39 per hour.
Note: For medical benefits to count toward meeting the requirement, the plan must be the equivalent of a “silver” plan or higher as defined by the federal Affordable Care Act and the employee must receive the medical benefits.
Notice and Posting Requirements:
In December 2019, the Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) will mail a revised workplace poster to every business with a Seattle business license. The poster will also be available on the OLS website. Employers must display the OLS workplace poster, updated annually, in a conspicuous and accessible location where employees work in Seattle. Employers must display the poster in English and in the primary language(s) of the employees at the particular workplace.
Note: In situations where an employer cannot display the poster, including when an employee works remotely or does not have a regular workplace or job site, employers may provide the poster on an individual basis in an employee's primary language in a physical or electronic format that is reasonably conspicuous and accessible.
If the employee works in Seattle on an occasional basis, employers must comply with the workplace posting requirements reasonably in advance of the employee’s first period of work in Seattle.
Compliance Recommendations:
Seattle employers must pay all non-exempt employees at least the minimum wage per hour and notify employees about the new minimum wage rate. Please contact your dedicated service professional with any questions.