What is the Law Regarding Employment in Washington?

Employees, employers and independent contractors in Washington are controlled by employment law. These laws govern issues in employment such as hiring, workplace disputes, and terminations Both employees and employers must have knowledge of the Washington employment laws.

"At-Will" vs. Contract Employment Terms

Most forms of work relationships are "at-will", though in some circumstances the employer and employee will have an employment contract for a set period of time. In "at-will" employment, either the employer or the worker may terminate the job at any time, just as long as the reasons for doing so are not illegal. When the parties use an employment contract, the terms of employment will be controlled by their state and federal laws, as applied to people living in Washington.

Anti-Discrimination laws in Washington

Discrimination is illegal at any time of employment such as hiring policies, wage distribution, and terminations, according to laws which apply to residents of Washington. People who live and work in Washington must follow laws which make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of specific categories. These categories include race, gender, age, national origin, and disability.

A claim regarding discrimination can be heard at an administrative agency like EEOC. Many lawyers specialize in the field of employment discrimination.