Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report vote that requires sexual assault and harassment training for certain employees in isolated work environments.

Highlights:

• Requires every hotel, motel, retail, or security guard entity, or property services contractor, who employs an employee, to (Sec. 1):

• Adopt a sexual harassment policy;

• Give mandatory training to the employer’s managers, supervisors, and employees to:

• Prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace;

• Prevent sexual discrimination in the workplace; and

• Educate the employer’s workforce about protection for employees who report violations of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation;

• Give a list of resources for the employer’s employees to utilize, including the equal employment opportunity commission, the Washington state human rights commission, and local advocacy groups centered on preventing sexual harassment and sexual assault; and

• Provide a panic button to each employee.

• Defines “employee” as an individual who spends a majority of their working hours alone, or whose primary work responsibility involves working without another co-worker present, and who is employed by an employer as a janitor, security guard, hotel or motel housekeeper, or room service attendant (Sec. 1).

• Defines “panic button” as an emergency contact device carried by an employee by which the employee may summon immediate on-scene assistance from another worker, a security guard, or a representative of the employer (Sec. 1).

• Requires hotels and motels with 60 or more rooms to meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2020 (Sec. 1).

• Requires all other relevant employers to meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2021 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text