Updated 4/20/20 4pm
If you are concerned your employer isn’t taking the necessary precautions to keep you safe from exposure
Under WA state law, your employer is responsible for providing a safe & healthy workplace.
During the shutdown of non-essential businesses, those that remain open must ensure social distancing for employees & customers, provide for frequent hand washing; tell sick employees to stay home; and clean all high-touch areas.
They have released non-mandatory guidelines for employers here.
If your employer isn’t doing enough to keep workers safe, you can file an anonymous report with the Department of Labor & Industries here.
You can also file a claim with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) here.
If you are a high-risk worker - that is, over the age of 65 or have underlying medical conditions - you can protect your health without risking your job or losing income. Your employer must provide alternative work accommodations, or if that is not possible, allow you to take any accrued paid leave you have. You must also be allowed to reatin your health insurance during this time.
If you believe your employer is remaining open in violation of the stay-home order or is in violation of social distancing requirements, you can file a report with the governor's office here.
In general, employees have a right to file claims without retaliation, and to act together with coworkers to raise safety & health concerns in their workplace. If you want information about how to organize with your coworkers, or feel that you’ve been retaliated against, you can contact us at coronavirus@workingwa.org.
