Washington Employee Handbook

When your company hires employees in Washington, you are required to comply with federal, state, and local employment laws. There are a variety of human resources and labor policies in the workplace that differ by state. Through your employee handbook, employers can easily document and distribute the correct policies to their employees to comply with the laws of each state.

Creating your Washington Employee Handbook is a useful way to explain important policies and procedures, mitigate legal risk, and introduce employees to the expectations and operating practices of the organization.

Mosey has compiled the relevant policies a company with employees in Washington must consider.

Washington Employee Handbook Policies

There are 6 state and local employee handbook policies in Washington.

Privacy

Washington Social Media Privacy Policy

Generally, Employer is legally prohibited from accessing your personal social media accounts and will not discipline or terminate you for refusing to disclose your social media login information or for denying to provide access to your social media accounts. The law does not prohibit Employer from reviewing publicly available social media postings or from accessing their own electronic media and hardware.

Leaves of Absence

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Policy

Employer provides eligible employees with up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave, in compliance with Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program.

Paid Family and Medical Leave can be used for:

• Bonding after the birth or placement of a child;
• An employee’s serious health condition;
• A serious health condition of a qualifying family member; or
• Certain military events.

Washington Jury Duty Leave Policy

You are entitled to job-protected leave to serve as a juror. Unless directed otherwise by your manager, you should return to work at the completion of jury duty, even if for a partial day.

Washington Volunteer Emergency Responder Leave Policy

You are entitled to take unpaid leave to serve as a volunteer firefighter, reserve officers, or members of the Civil Air Patrol in response to a fire or an emergency call. You may be required to provide proof of service and should provide advance notice that you will be absent or late as soon as possible.

Washington Military Family Leave

Under the Washington Family Military Leave Act, you are permitted to take up to 15 days of job-protected military family leave per calendar year if your spouse is ordered to active duty during a period of military conflict.

Washington Domestic Violence Victim Leave Policy

You are permitted to request and take job-protected leave from work if you or a family member of yours is the victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking violence or sexual violence.

Federal Employee Handbook Policies

Regardless of which states you have employees in, there are required federal policies that must be included in your employee handbook. In addition to any state-specific policies, your employee handbook for Washington should contain the following federal policies.

• Anti-Harassment Policy
• Anti-Sexual Harassment Policy
• Anti-Retaliation Policy
• Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
• Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Handbook Policy Best Practices

In addition to the required federal policies, the following policies are best practices to include in your employee handbook.

• Weapons Policy
• Disciplinary Action Policy
• Prohibited Conduct Policy
• Violations Reporting Policy
• Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
• At-Will Employment