2024 legislative review
Employment and Labor Law
Robert Battles : Labor & Employment Law , Immigration , Technology & Privacy , Litigation
This year was no exception to the continued unprecedented attack on employers in the state of Washington . We saw bills being introduced that would undermine unemployment insurance , undermine workers compensation , and undermine the basic wage and hour issues in the state .
We were able to stop some of it , and some of it did not get stopped . There was an attempt to expand the unemployment insurance system to cover strikes , which was never contemplated under the law , and would expand this bedrock program far beyond what it was intended for . When it comes to workers ’ compensation , we saw an attempt to increase costs by breaking down some barriers regarding benefits . Conversely , when we tried to propose positive steps to help injured employees and give them opportunities through the Return to Work program , those were rejected . But yet , when lawmakers wanted to increase costs and expand benefits when somebody was off work , those were pushed forward .
Bob Battles is AWB ’ s lead on workplace issues , privacy and labor law . He is also AWB ’ s general counsel .
We also continued to see our state on the receiving end of national campaigns , not only to provide unemployment benefits to striking workers , but so-called mandatory meeting issues . We are seeing this as a specific push to take away federal rights that employers have to work with their employees , and try to undermine that system on a state-by-state basis .
While privacy had previously been the primary discussion in the technology side , what we saw this year was artificial intelligence legislation being introduced in multiple areas . AWB joined other employers in recommending lawmakers take a step back and look at slowing down the regulatory approach . We need to determine the proper way to address this technology without undermining the innovation and the benefits that can come with it .
Overall , this was another year of employers playing defense . The positive bills we introduced , like expanding the Return to Work program , ran into opposition .
Throughout the interim and looking at the 2025 legislative session , AWB will be engaged with the new artificial intelligence task force . We also see potential challenges to the mandatory meeting issues . We expect to see a continued push to undermine the voluntary quit components of unemployment insurance , chipping away the strict limits that have protected our unemployment system and allowed it to recover quickly . We also expect to see another effort to allow striking workers to collect unemployment benefits , and if not legislation , at least more discussion of AI issues .
unemployment insurance
HB 1893 unemployment insurance benefits for striking workers
Failed / AWB Opposed
sponsor : Rep . Beth Doglio , D-Olympia
This bill would have allowed employees who go on strike to collect unemployment benefits . AWB opposed this bill , which is a fundamental misuse of unemployment insurance benefits . Unemployment insurance was never intended to pay workers who go on strike ; it ’ s for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own . It would also create new costs for the state ’ s
Unemployment Trust Fund , create higher UI costs for employers , lead to the potential for longer strikes , create financial hits to school districts — and taxpayers — when teachers go on strike , and cause increased costs for state infrastructure projects including affordable housing and transportation projects impacted by construction strikes . The bill passed the House but died in the Senate .
8 association of washington business