During the 2018 legislative session, the Legislature passed HB 1506 expanding equal pay laws in Washington State. HB 1506, known as the Equal Pay Opportunity Act, took effect on June 7. This law requires employers to provide equal pay and career advancement opportunities to employees, regardless of their gender. Under the new law employers:

• Must provide equal compensation to similarly-employed workers;
• Must not limit or provide career advancement opportunities based on gender;
• Must not prevent employees from disclosing their wages with other workers or require agreements with employees that stop them from disclosing their wages;
• May not take any negative action against an employee for discussing wages, filing a complaint or exercising other rights under the Equal Pay Opportunity Act; and,
• May not use an individual's previous wage or salary history to justify differences in employee pay.

Additionally, the Equal Pay Opportunity Act shifts the burden of proof onto employers when individual disputes are brought forward to the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries, the agency tasked with enforcing the new measure.

To ensure that your agency’s policies are in compliance with the new law, visit www.Lni.wa.gov/EqualPay or contact L&I’s Employment Standards program at (360) 902-4930 for more information.