Administrative Policies

The following administrative policies are the current opinions of the Department of Labor & Industries about how the major labor laws under its jurisdiction should be applied. These policies do not replace the laws and regulations, but are intended only as a guide and interpretation of the laws and regulations. These policies remain in effect as of the date noted in each, until such time as they are modified, removed, or new policies added.

Minimum Wage, Overtime, Exemptions

Policy #	Title	Statute/Code
ES.A.1	Minimum Wage Act Applicability. (Updated December 29, 2020.)	RCW 49.46 WAC 296-128
ES.A.2	Definition of Wage. (Updated July 15, 2014.)	RCW 49.46.010(7)
ES.A.3	Minimum Hourly Wage. (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.46.020 WAC 296-126 WAC 296-125 WAC 296-131
ES.A.4	Special Education Student Exemption from Minimum Wage.	RCW 49.46.060 WAC 296-128
ES.A.5	Waiving of Rights Under Minimum Wage Act Prohibited and More Favorable Laws Allowed. (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.46.090 RCW 49.46.120
ES.A.6	Collective Bargaining Agreements, Employment Agreements, and Policies. (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.46.110 RCW 49.12.187
ES.A.7	Contents of former policy ES.A.7 can be found in ES.A.5 as of April 6, 2023.
ES.A.8.1	Overtime. (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.46.130 WAC 296-126 WAC 296-128
ES.A.8.2	"How to Calculate Overtime". (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: "Como Calcular las Horas Extras". (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.130
ES.A.9.1	Questions and Answers about Salary Basis. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Preguntas y Respuestas Acerca de la Base del Salario. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 46.46.010(5)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-500 through 545
ES.A.9.2	General Information Applicable to Exemptions from Minimum Wage Act for White Collar Workers. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Información General Aplicable a las Exenciones de la Ley del Salario Mínimo para Trabajadores de Cuello Blanco. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-500 through 545
ES.A.9.3	Exemption from Minimum Wage Act requirements for Executive Employees. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Exención de los Requisitos de la Ley del Salario Mínimo Para Empleados Ejecutivos. (Actualizada en Junio 26 de 2020)	RWC 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-510
ES.A.9.4	Exemption from Minimum Wage Act requirements for Administrative Employees. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Exención de los Requisitos de la Ley del Salario Mínimo para Empleados Administrativos. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RWC 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-520
ES.A.9.5	Exemption from Minimum Wage Act requirements for Professional Employees. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Exención de los Requisitos de la Ley del Salario Mínimo para Empleados Profesionales. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-530
ES.A.9.6	Exemption from Minimum Wage Act requirements for Computer Professional Employees. (updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Exención de los Requisitos de la Ley del Salario Mínimo Para los Empleados Profesionales de Informática. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RWC 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-535
ES.A.9.7	Exemption from Minimum Wage Act requirements for Outside Salespersons. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Exención de los Requisitos de la Ley del Salario Mínimo para Vendedores Externos. (Actualizada el 26 Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128-540
ES.A.9.8	Definition of Fee Basis in Administrative, Professional, and Outside Sales Positions. (Updated June 26, 2020.) En español: Definición de los Honorarios en Puestos Administrativos, Profesionales y de Ventas Externas. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.010(3)(c) RCW 49.46.130(2)(a) WAC 296-128
ES.A.9.9	Salary Thresholds for Exemption from Minimum Wage Act for White Collar Workers. En español: Umbrales Salariales para Exención de la Ley del Salario Mínimo Para Trabajadores de Cuello Blanco. (Actualizada el 26 de Junio de 2020)	RCW 49.46.010(3)(c) WAC 296-128-535 WAC 296-128-545
ES.A.10.1	Retail or Service Establishment Commission Overtime Exception. (Updated July 15, 2014.)	RCW 49.46.130(3)
ES.A.10.2	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Retail/Service Establishment Sales Exception.	RCW 49.46.130(3)
ES.A.10.3	Examples of Retail Sales and Service Establishments.	RCW 49.46.130(3)
ES.A.11	Law Restricting Mandatory Overtime for Nurses. (Updated December 21, 2016.)	RCW 49.28.130, 140, 150
ES.A.12	Tips, Gratuities and Service Charges.	RCW 49.46.020(3)(c)
ES.A.12.2	Tip, Gratuity, and Service Charge Examples	RCW 49.46 WAC 296-128
ES.A.13	Minimum Wage Act - Washington-Based Employee.	RCW 49.46 WAC 296-128
ES.A.14	Minimum Wage Act - Employment Relationships.	RCW 49.46 WAC 296-128

Paid Sick Leave

Policy #	Title	Statute/Code
ES.B.1	Paid Sick Leave - Frequently Asked Questions. (Updated December 7, 2021.) En español: Permisos por enfermedad pagados: preguntas frecuentes. (Actualizada el 7 de diciembre de 2021.)	RCW 49.46 WAC 296-128
ES.B.2	Paid Sick Leave- Normal Hourly Compensation.	RCW 49.46.210(1)(i) WAC 296-128-670

Industrial Welfare and Related Acts

Policy #	Title	Statute/Code
ES.C.1	Industrial Welfare Act: Applications, Exemptions, and Interpretations. (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.12 WAC 296-126 WAC 296-125 WAC 296-131
ES.C.2	Hours Worked. (Updated July 19, 2021.)	RCW 49.12 WAC 296-126
ES.C.3	Commissions, Piecework and Minimum Wage Requirements.	WAC 296-126-021
ES.C.4.1	School Week and Work Week for Minors (under revision).	RCW 49.12 RCW 49.30 RCW 13.64.010 WAC 296-125-027 WAC 296-131-120
ES.C.4.2	Minors and Bloodborne Pathogens in Non-Medical settings.	RCW 49.12 RCW 49.17 WAC 296-125-030 WAC 296-823
ES.C.4.3	Driving by Minors in Non-Agricultural Jobs.	RCW 49.12 WAC 296-125-030
ES.C.5	Payment Interval. (Repealed May 16, 2007. See links to the right.)	WAC 296-126-023, WAC 296-131-010, and WAC 296-128-035
ES.C.6.1	Meal and Rest Periods for Non-agricultural Workers Age 18 and over. (Updated December 1, 2017.)	RCW 49.12 WAC 296-126-092
ES.C.6.2	Agricultural Labor Standards - Meal Periods, Rest Periods, and Rates of Pay. (Updated December 28, 2021.) En español: Normas de Empleo Agrícolas – Periodos de Comida, Periodos de Descanso y Tarifas de Pago (Actualizada el 28 de diciembre de 2021)	RCW 49.30 WAC 296-131-020
ES.C.7	Employee Access to Personnel Files.	RCW 49.12.240, .250, .260
ES.C.8.1	Employee Wearing Apparel and Uniforms.	RCW 49.12.450
ES.C.8.2	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Employee Wearing Apparel.	RCW 49.12.450
ES.C.9	Variances from Industrial Welfare Act.	RCW 49.12
ES.C.10	Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Family Care Act. (Updated August 6, 2014.)	RCW 49.12.265, .270, .275, .280, .285, .290 and .295 WAC 296-130
ES.C.11	Student Learner Exemption for Worksite Learning and Apprenticeships in certain hazardous work. (Updated December 29, 2020)	RCW 49.12 WAC 296-125-030 WAC 296-131-125
ES.C.12	Military Family Leave Act	RCW 49.77

Record Keeping Requirements

Policy #	Title	Statute/Code
ES.D.1	Recordkeeping and Access to Payroll Records (Non-agricultural Employment). (Updated April 6, 2023.)	RCW 49.12.050 WAC 296-126 RCW 49.46.040 RCW 49.46.070 WAC 296-128
ES.D.2	Recordkeeping and Access to Payroll Records (Agricultural Employment). (Updated December 7, 2021.) En español: Mantenimiento de Registros y Acceso a los Registros de Nómina (Trabajo Agrícola) (Actualizada el 7 de diciembre de 2021)	RCW 49.30 WAC 296-131

Equal Pay and Opportunities Act

Policy #	Title	Statute/Code
ES.E.1	Equal Pay and Opportunities Act	RCW 49.58

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