L&I oversees several worker protection laws in the areas of worker safety and health, wage and hour requirements, and workers' compensation insurance. If workers experience unsafe work conditions, or if they fail to receive full pay for their work, overtime, meals and rest periods, or other required rights, they can file a complaint with L&I and L&I staff will investigate. If they are injured on the job or contract an occupational illness, L&I will protect their right to file a workers' compensation insurance claim and receive benefits.

Although L&I does significant outreach, many workers — particularly those in lower-wage jobs, with limited English proficiency, migrants, and people in underserved communities — do not know their rights or do not exercise them. Workers may be afraid of retaliation from their employers or have fear of government. They may face language barriers that prevent them from seeking help or accessing services, or they may need assistance with completing worker rights or safety complaints, or workers' compensation claims. The result is inequitable access to protections provided to workers under the law.

To address this gap, L&I awards grants to nonprofit organizations that provide assistance to underserved workers. These worker-trusted organizations use grant funds to provide and facilitate outreach and education to workers about their rights, address their concerns, and assist them in connecting with L&I.

Grant Opportunity

Each year, L&I has $1,000,000 available for grants to nonprofit organizations statewide that serve Washington worker communities, with the next grant term beginning July 2024 and ending June 30, 2025. Grant award amounts typically range from $30,000 to $150,000, though organizations can request more or less through the grant application form.

Factors affecting decisions on grant award amounts:

• Geographic reach of the organization
• Number of workers served
• Nature of services — breadth, depth, group, one-on-one
• Service delivery locations — single vs. multiple sites; office vs. community sites
• Perceived vulnerability and needs of the worker communities served

Grant Funded Program Activities

Below are some examples of how organizations can use the grant funding:

• Provide outreach about L&I-administered workers' rights, services, and resources. The community organization helps workers learn about and exercise them.
  • This may include outreach through flyers, newsletters, community events, social media, radio/television interviews or public service announcements, door-to-door, and so forth.
  • Note: Outreach is to be performed away from job sites, unless coordinated with the employer.
• Organize community forums for workers and educate workers on their rights and protections, and the services offered by the organization and by L&I.
  • L&I staff could present at the forum and/or table at these events.
  • Note: Forums are to be located away from job sites, unless coordinated with the employer.
• Provide one-on-one and small group education to workers about their rights, protections, and L&I services.
• Provide one-on-one assistance to people who need help with forms, letters, processes, or with contacting appropriate L&I staff.
• Work closely with designated L&I outreach team members to address specific questions or communicate access and education issues.

Expected Grant Timeline

• March 14, 2024: Application form released
• April 28, 2024: Applications due
• May 2024: Application review and selection
• July 2024: Grant work begins
• June 30, 2025: Last date for any grant-funded work

The following are eligibility requirements for organizations that wish to participate in the Worker Outreach Grants program.

The organization:

• Has a history of providing services to a significant number of underserved Washington workers;
• Is a registered nonprofit organization with both state and federal designations;
• Is registered as a Washington employer with an active L&I account;
• Is current on all regulatory and tax responsibilities; and
• Carries required liability insurance (or will carry if awarded a grant):
  • Commercial general liability policy of $1,000,000 or more per occurrence.
  • Automotive liability policy of $1,000,000 or more per occurrence.

Grantee Responsibilities and Requirements

Proposal Requirements

Detailed proposal instructions are provided in the Worker Outreach Grant Application. 

Proposal requirements include:

• Information about your organization
• Description about the workers and communities you serve, and the services you currently provide
• Demographic and professional background of your staff who will help deliver the program
• Description of your proposed plan:
  • audience you intent to target;
  • relationship between your organization and the audience;
  • performance goals and the performance data you plan to track;
  • languages in which you intend to offer services; and
  • how you will evaluate success.
• Requested grant amount

Resources

• Worker Outreach Program grant application
• Sample contract, including insurance requirement details
  • Sample statement of work
  • Sample milestone budget schedule
• Worker Outreach Program informational flyer

L&I Reference Materials

These may be helpful in developing your program:

• Pocket Guide to Worker Rights (F101-165-909)
  • Available in several languages

• Workers' Compensation Benefits: A Guide for Injured Workers (F242-104-000)
  • Available in Spanish

• Safety and Health Discrimination in the Workplace (F417-244-000)
  • Available in multiple languages

• Workers' Compensation Discrimination (F262-249-909)
  • Available in Spanish