HOURS OF LABOR

RCW 49.28
in effect

RCW 49.28.010 Eight hour day, 1899 act — Public works contracts — Emergency overtime — Penalty.

(1) Hereafter eight hours in any calendar day shall constitute a day's work on any work done for the state or any county or municipality within the state, subject to conditions hereinafter provided. (2) All work done by contract or subcontract on any building or improvements or works on roads, bridges, streets, alleys, or buildings for the state or any county or municipality within the state, shall be done under the provisions of this section. In cases of extraordinary emergency such as danger to life or property, the hours for work may be extended, but in such case the rate of pay for time employed in excess of eight hours of each calendar day, shall be one and one-half times the rate of pay allowed for the same amount of time during eight hours' service. And for this purpose this section is made a part of all contracts, subcontracts, or agreements for work done for the state or any county or municipality within the state. (3) Any contractor, subcontractor, or agent of contractor or subcontractor, foreman, or employer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined a sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail for a period of not less than ten days nor more than ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. (1) Hereafter eight hours in any calendar day shall constitute a day's work on any work done for the state or any county or municipality within the state, subject to conditions hereinafter provided. (2) All work done by contract or subcontract on any building or improvements or works on roads, bridges, streets, alleys, or buildings for the state or any county or municipality within the state, shall be done under the provisions of this section. In cases of extraordinary emergency such as danger to life or property, the hours for work may be extended, but in such case the rate of pay for time employed in excess of eight hours of each calendar day, shall be one and one-half times the rate of pay allowed for the same amount of time during eight hours' service. And for this purpose this section is made a part of all contracts, subcontracts, or agreements for work done for the state or any county or municipality within the state. (3) Any contractor, subcontractor, or agent of contractor or subcontractor, foreman, or employer who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined a sum not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than two hundred dollars, or imprisoned in the county jail for a period of not less than ten days nor more than ninety days, or both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court.

RCW 49.28.040 Eight hour day, 1903 act — Policy enunciated.

That it is a part of the public policy of the state of Washington that all work "by contract or day labor done" for it, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall be performed in workdays of not more than eight hours each, except in cases of extraordinary emergency. No case of extraordinary emergency shall be construed to exist in any case where other labor can be found to take the place of labor which has already been employed for eight hours in any calendar day. That it is a part of the public policy of the state of Washington that all work "by contract or day labor done" for it, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall be performed in workdays of not more than eight hours each, except in cases of extraordinary emergency. No case of extraordinary emergency shall be construed to exist in any case where other labor can be found to take the place of labor which has already been employed for eight hours in any calendar day.

RCW 49.28.050 Eight hour day, 1903 act — Contracts, cancellation of, for violations.

All contracts for work for the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall provide that they may be canceled by the officers or agents authorized to contract for or supervise the execution of such work, in case such work is not performed in accordance with the policy of the state relating to such work. All contracts for work for the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created by its laws, shall provide that they may be canceled by the officers or agents authorized to contract for or supervise the execution of such work, in case such work is not performed in accordance with the policy of the state relating to such work.

RCW 49.28.060 Eight hour day, 1903 act — Stipulation in contracts — Duty of officers.

It is made the duty of all officers or agents authorized to contract for work to be done in behalf of the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created under its laws, to stipulate in all contracts as provided for in RCW 49.28.040 through 49.28.060 , and all such officers and agents, and all officers and agents entrusted with the supervision of work performed under such contracts, are authorized, and it is made their duty, to declare any contract canceled, the execution of which is not in accordance with the public policy of this state as herein declared. It is made the duty of all officers or agents authorized to contract for work to be done in behalf of the state of Washington, or any political subdivision created under its laws, to stipulate in all contracts as provided for in RCW 49.28.040 through 49.28.060 , and all such officers and agents, and all officers and agents entrusted with the supervision of work performed under such contracts, are authorized, and it is made their duty, to declare any contract canceled, the execution of which is not in accordance with the public policy of this state as herein declared.

RCW 49.28.065 Public works employees — Agreements to work ten hour day.

Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 49.28.010 through 49.28.060 , a contractor or subcontractor in any public works contract subject to those provisions may enter into an agreement with his or her employees in which the employees work up to ten hours in a calendar day. No such agreement may provide that the employees work ten-hour days for more than four calendar days a week. Any such agreement is subject to approval by the employees. The overtime provisions of *RCW 49.28.020 shall not apply to the hours, up to forty hours per week, worked pursuant to agreements entered into under this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 49.28.010 through 49.28.060 , a contractor or subcontractor in any public works contract subject to those provisions may enter into an agreement with his or her employees in which the employees work up to ten hours in a calendar day. No such agreement may provide that the employees work ten-hour days for more than four calendar days a week. Any such agreement is subject to approval by the employees. The overtime provisions of *RCW 49.28.020 shall not apply to the hours, up to forty hours per week, worked pursuant to agreements entered into under this section.

RCW 49.28.080 Hours of domestic employees — Exception — Penalty.

(1) No male or female household or domestic employee shall be employed by any person for a longer period than sixty hours in any one week. Employed time shall include minutes or hours when the employee has to remain subject to the call of the employer and when the employee is not free to follow his or her inclinations. (2) In cases of emergency such employee may be employed for a longer period than sixty hours. (3) Any employer violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. (1) No male or female household or domestic employee shall be employed by any person for a longer period than sixty hours in any one week. Employed time shall include minutes or hours when the employee has to remain subject to the call of the employer and when the employee is not free to follow his or her inclinations. (2) In cases of emergency such employee may be employed for a longer period than sixty hours. (3) Any employer violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

RCW 49.28.100 Hours of operators of power equipment in waterfront operations — Penalty.

(1) It shall be unlawful for any employer to permit any of his or her employees to operate on docks, in warehouses and/or in or on other waterfront properties any power driven mechanical equipment for the purpose of loading cargo on, or unloading cargo from, ships, barges, or other watercraft, or of assisting in such loading or unloading operations, for a period in excess of twelve and one-half hours at any one time without giving such person an interval of eight hours' rest: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in cases of emergency, including fire, violent storms, leaking or sinking ships or services required by the armed forces of the United States. (2) Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. (1) It shall be unlawful for any employer to permit any of his or her employees to operate on docks, in warehouses and/or in or on other waterfront properties any power driven mechanical equipment for the purpose of loading cargo on, or unloading cargo from, ships, barges, or other watercraft, or of assisting in such loading or unloading operations, for a period in excess of twelve and one-half hours at any one time without giving such person an interval of eight hours' rest: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, The provisions of this section shall not be applicable in cases of emergency, including fire, violent storms, leaking or sinking ships or services required by the armed forces of the United States. (2) Any person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor.

RCW 49.28.130 Hours of health care facility employees — Definitions.

The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 49.28.140 and 49.28.150 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1)(a) "Employee" means a person who: (i) Is employed by a health care facility; (ii) Is involved in direct patient care activities or clinical services; and (iii) Receives an hourly wage or is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. (b) "Employee" does not mean a person who: (i) Is employed by a health care facility as defined in subsection (3)(a)(v) of this section; and (ii) Is a surgical technologist registered under chapter 18.215 RCW, a diagnostic radiologic technologist or cardiovascular invasive specialist certified under chapter 18.84 RCW, a respiratory care practitioner licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW, or a certified nursing assistant as defined in RCW 18.88A.020 . (2) "Employer" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, the state, a political subdivision of the state, or person or group of persons, acting directly or indirectly in the interest of a health care facility. (3)(a) "Health care facility" means the following facilities, or any part of the facility, including such facilities if owned and operated by a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, that operate on a twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week basis: (i) Hospices licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW; (ii) Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, except that until July 1, 2021, the provisions of section 3, chapter 296, Laws of 2019 do not apply to: (A) Hospitals certified as critical access hospitals under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395i-4; (B) Hospitals with fewer than twenty-five acute care beds in operation; and (C) Hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as sole community hospitals as of January 1, 2013, that: Have had less than one hundred fifty acute care licensed beds in fiscal year 2011; have a level III adult trauma service designation from the department of health as of January 1, 2014; and are owned and operated by the state or a political subdivision; (iii) Rural health care facilities as defined in RCW 70.175.020 ; (iv) *Psychiatric hospitals licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW; or (v) Facilities owned and operated by the department of corrections or by a governing unit as defined in RCW 70.48.020 in a correctional institution as defined in RCW 9.94.049 that provide health care services. (b) If a nursing home regulated under chapter 18.51 RCW or a home health agency regulated under chapter 70.127 RCW is operating under the license of a health care facility, the nursing home or home health agency is considered part of the health care facility for the purposes of this subsection. (4) "Overtime" means the hours worked in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, regularly scheduled shift within a 24-hour period not to exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period or 80 hours in a consecutive 14-day period. (5) "On-call time" means time spent by an employee who is not working on the premises of the place of employment but who is compensated for availability or who, as a condition of employment, has agreed to be available to return to the premises of the place of employment on short notice if the need arises. (6) "Reasonable efforts" means that the employer, to the extent reasonably possible, does all of the following but is unable to obtain staffing coverage: (a) Seeks individuals to volunteer to work extra time from all available qualified staff who are working; (b) Contacts qualified employees who have made themselves available to work extra time; (c) Seeks the use of per diem staff; and (d) Seeks personnel from a contracted temporary agency when such staffing is permitted by law or an applicable collective bargaining agreement, and when the employer regularly uses a contracted temporary agency. (7) "Unforeseeable emergent circumstance" means (a) any unforeseen declared national, state, or municipal emergency; (b) when a health care facility disaster plan is activated; or (c) any unforeseen disaster or other catastrophic event which substantially affects or increases the need for health care services. The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and RCW 49.28.140 and 49.28.150 unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1)(a) "Employee" means a person who: (i) Is employed by a health care facility; (ii) Is involved in direct patient care activities or clinical services; and (iii) Receives an hourly wage or is covered by a collective bargaining agreement. (b) "Employee" does not mean a person who: (i) Is employed by a health care facility as defined in subsection (3)(a)(v) of this section; and (ii) Is a surgical technologist registered under chapter 18.215 RCW, a diagnostic radiologic technologist or cardiovascular invasive specialist certified under chapter 18.84 RCW, a respiratory care practitioner licensed under chapter 18.89 RCW, or a certified nursing assistant as defined in RCW 18.88A.020 . (2) "Employer" means an individual, partnership, association, corporation, the state, a political subdivision of the state, or person or group of persons, acting directly or indirectly in the interest of a health care facility. (3)(a) "Health care facility" means the following facilities, or any part of the facility, including such facilities if owned and operated by a political subdivision or instrumentality of the state, that operate on a twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week basis: (i) Hospices licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW; (ii) Hospitals licensed under chapter 70.41 RCW, except that until July 1, 2021, the provisions of section 3, chapter 296, Laws of 2019 do not apply to: (A) Hospitals certified as critical access hospitals under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1395i-4; (B) Hospitals with fewer than twenty-five acute care beds in operation; and (C) Hospitals certified by the centers for medicare and medicaid services as sole community hospitals as of January 1, 2013, that: Have had less than one hundred fifty acute care licensed beds in fiscal year 2011; have a level III adult trauma service designation from the department of health as of January 1, 2014; and are owned and operated by the state or a political subdivision; (iii) Rural health care facilities as defined in RCW 70.175.020 ; (iv) *Psychiatric hospitals licensed under chapter 71.12 RCW; or (v) Facilities owned and operated by the department of corrections or by a governing unit as defined in RCW 70.48.020 in a correctional institution as defined in RCW 9.94.049 that provide health care services. (b) If a nursing home regulated under chapter 18.51 RCW or a home health agency regulated under chapter 70.127 RCW is operating under the license of a health care facility, the nursing home or home health agency is considered part of the health care facility for the purposes of this subsection. (4) "Overtime" means the hours worked in excess of an agreed upon, predetermined, regularly scheduled shift within a 24-hour period not to exceed 12 hours in a 24-hour period or 80 hours in a consecutive 14-day period. (5) "On-call time" means time spent by an employee who is not working on the premises of the place of employment but who is compensated for availability or who, as a condition of employment, has agreed to be available to return to the premises of the place of employment on short notice if the need arises. (6) "Reasonable efforts" means that the employer, to the extent reasonably possible, does all of the following but is unable to obtain staffing coverage: (a) Seeks individuals to volunteer to work extra time from all available qualified staff who are working; (b) Contacts qualified employees who have made themselves available to work extra time; (c) Seeks the use of per diem staff; and (d) Seeks personnel from a contracted temporary agency when such staffing is permitted by law or an applicable collective bargaining agreement, and when the employer regularly uses a contracted temporary agency. (7) "Unforeseeable emergent circumstance" means (a) any unforeseen declared national, state, or municipal emergency; (b) when a health care facility disaster plan is activated; or (c) any unforeseen disaster or other catastrophic event which substantially affects or increases the need for health care services.

RCW 49.28.140 Hours of health care facility employees — Mandatory overtime prohibited — Exceptions.

(1) No employee of a health care facility may be required to work overtime. Attempts to compel or force employees to work overtime are contrary to public policy, and any such requirement contained in a contract, agreement, or understanding is void. (2) The acceptance by any employee of overtime is strictly voluntary, and the refusal of an employee to accept such overtime work is not grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, or any other penalty, threat of reports for discipline, or employment decision adverse to the employee. (3) This section does not apply to overtime work that occurs: (a) Because of any unforeseeable emergent circumstance; (b) Because of prescheduled on-call time, subject to the following: (i) Mandatory prescheduled on-call time may not be used in lieu of scheduling employees to work regularly scheduled shifts when a staffing plan indicates the need for a scheduled shift; (ii) Mandatory prescheduled on-call time may not be used to address regular changes in patient census or acuity or expected increases in the number of employees not reporting for predetermined scheduled shifts; and (iii) Mandatory, prescheduled on-call time may not be used to begin at a time when the duration of the procedure is expected to exceed the employee's regular scheduled hours of work, except for the case of a nonemergent patient procedure for which, in the judgment of the provider responsible for the procedure, a delay would cause a worse clinical outcome; (c) When the employer documents that the employer has used reasonable efforts to obtain staffing. An employer has not used reasonable efforts if overtime work is used to fill vacancies resulting from chronic staff shortages; or (d) When an employee is required to work overtime to complete a patient care procedure already in progress where the absence of the employee could have an adverse effect on the patient. (4) An employee accepting overtime who works more than twelve consecutive hours shall be provided the option to have at least eight consecutive hours of uninterrupted time off from work following the time worked. (1) No employee of a health care facility may be required to work overtime. Attempts to compel or force employees to work overtime are contrary to public policy, and any such requirement contained in a contract, agreement, or understanding is void. (2) The acceptance by any employee of overtime is strictly voluntary, and the refusal of an employee to accept such overtime work is not grounds for discrimination, dismissal, discharge, or any other penalty, threat of reports for discipline, or employment decision adverse to the employee. (3) This section does not apply to overtime work that occurs: (a) Because of any unforeseeable emergent circumstance; (b) Because of prescheduled on-call time, subject to the following: (i) Mandatory prescheduled on-call time may not be used in lieu of scheduling employees to work regularly scheduled shifts when a staffing plan indicates the need for a scheduled shift; (ii) Mandatory prescheduled on-call time may not be used to address regular changes in patient census or acuity or expected increases in the number of employees not reporting for predetermined scheduled shifts; and (iii) Mandatory, prescheduled on-call time may not be used to begin at a time when the duration of the procedure is expected to exceed the employee's regular scheduled hours of work, except for the case of a nonemergent patient procedure for which, in the judgment of the provider responsible for the procedure, a delay would cause a worse clinical outcome; (c) When the employer documents that the employer has used reasonable efforts to obtain staffing. An employer has not used reasonable efforts if overtime work is used to fill vacancies resulting from chronic staff shortages; or (d) When an employee is required to work overtime to complete a patient care procedure already in progress where the absence of the employee could have an adverse effect on the patient. (4) An employee accepting overtime who works more than twelve consecutive hours shall be provided the option to have at least eight consecutive hours of uninterrupted time off from work following the time worked.

RCW 49.28.150 Hours of health care facility employees — Penalties.

The department of labor and industries shall investigate complaints of violations of RCW 49.28.140 as provided under RCW 49.12.145 through 49.12.149 . The department of labor and industries shall investigate complaints of violations of RCW 49.28.140 as provided under RCW 49.12.145 through 49.12.149 .

RCW 49.28.160 Flexible work policies.

(1) Every general authority and limited authority Washington law enforcement agency may adopt a flexible work policy. The policy may allow for general authority and limited authority Washington peace officers to work at less than full time when feasible, such as supplementing work during peak hours with part-time officers. The flexible work policy may include alternative shift and work schedules that fit the needs of the law enforcement agency. (2) The flexible work policy adopted in subsection (1) of this section may require an officer have a certain number of years of experience as a full-time officer or have additional training for the officer to work part time or be eligible for any other types of flexible work. (3) The flexible work policy adopted in subsection (1) of this section may not cause the layoff or otherwise displace any full-time officer. (4) This section does not alter any existing collective bargaining unit, the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement, or the duty of a law enforcement agency to meet their duty to bargain under chapter 41.56 or 41.80 RCW. Full-time and part-time officers working for the same law enforcement agency who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement must be in the same bargaining unit. (5) This section does not alter any laws or workplace policies relating to restrictions on secondary employment for general authority and limited authority Washington peace officers. (6) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in this subsection apply. (a) "General authority and limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" has the same meaning as "general authority Washington law enforcement agency" and "limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" as defined in RCW 10.93.020 (3) and (5), respectively. (b) "General authority and limited authority Washington peace officers" has the same meaning as "general authority Washington peace officer" and "limited authority Washington peace officer" as defined in RCW 10.93.020 (4) and (6), respectively. (1) Every general authority and limited authority Washington law enforcement agency may adopt a flexible work policy. The policy may allow for general authority and limited authority Washington peace officers to work at less than full time when feasible, such as supplementing work during peak hours with part-time officers. The flexible work policy may include alternative shift and work schedules that fit the needs of the law enforcement agency. (2) The flexible work policy adopted in subsection (1) of this section may require an officer have a certain number of years of experience as a full-time officer or have additional training for the officer to work part time or be eligible for any other types of flexible work. (3) The flexible work policy adopted in subsection (1) of this section may not cause the layoff or otherwise displace any full-time officer. (4) This section does not alter any existing collective bargaining unit, the provisions of any existing collective bargaining agreement, or the duty of a law enforcement agency to meet their duty to bargain under chapter 41.56 or 41.80 RCW. Full-time and part-time officers working for the same law enforcement agency who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement must be in the same bargaining unit. (5) This section does not alter any laws or workplace policies relating to restrictions on secondary employment for general authority and limited authority Washington peace officers. (6) For the purposes of this section, the definitions in this subsection apply. (a) "General authority and limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" has the same meaning as "general authority Washington law enforcement agency" and "limited authority Washington law enforcement agency" as defined in RCW 10.93.020 (3) and (5), respectively. (b) "General authority and limited authority Washington peace officers" has the same meaning as "general authority Washington peace officer" and "limited authority Washington peace officer" as defined in RCW 10.93.020 (4) and (6), respectively.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=49.28&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026