Press Release
For Immediate Release
Contact Information
Cynthia Santana
Communications Director
Phone: 206-256-5219
Email: cynthia.santana@seattle.govcynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Proposed Amendments to the Domestic Workers Ordinance
Seattle, WA (August 6, 2026) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces proposed amendments to the Seattle Domestic Workers Ordinance. After a series of stakeholder meetings and community feedback, the Domestic Workers Standards Board provided initial set of amendment recommendations to OLS, which are in the spirit of the new state law and the Board’s own experience.
The proposed amendments include:
- Requiring a written agreement between the hiring entity and domestic worker
- Requiring the hiring entity to create and retain pay and hour records
- Adding retaliation protections for domestic workers taking paid sick and safe leave and/or other agreed upon time off
- Requiring advance notice of termination
- Aligning OLS enforcement code with other labor standards
“Seattle has been a national leader in recognizing and protecting the essential labor of domestic workers. Under my administration, we are reaffirming those protections and the critical role these workers play in our city. These amendments are an important next step to ensure domestic workers receive the rights and safeguards they deserve. With these changes, domestic workers will have stronger workplace protections and a fair chance to earn a living wage while being treated with dignity and respect,” said Seattle Mayor Katie B. Wilson.
"Updating our domestic workers ordinance is crucial in our work to guarantee rights and protections to the people who take care of our homes and families," said Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck.
“The passing of statewide domestic workers’ protections both validates the importance of Seattle’s Domestic Workers Ordinance, and the need for alignment with new statewide protections,“ said OLS Director Steven Marchese. “Both research and community feedback make clear the proposed amendments will strengthen existing protections while empowering domestic workers to fully access their rights.”
“Seattle has led the way in correcting the historical wrongs that left domestic workers overlooked and vulnerable to exploitation, and the proposed amendments to the domestic workers ordinance are another step in ensuring that workers are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve. The changes will help workers understand our rights, advocate for ourselves, and strengthen our community; help employers understand their responsibilities when they bring someone to work in their home,” said Nanny and Seattle Domestic Workers Standards Board Member, Edy Domínguez.
Seattle became the first city in the nation to pass a domestic workers bill of rights in 2019. Since then, a dozen other jurisdictions have followed suit including most recently Washington State, which became the 13th state to pass labor protections for domestic workers (SHB2355).
If City Council passes these amendments, the updated law will be effective on July 1, 2027, the same date the new state law goes into effect.
For information on Seattle’s Domestic Workers Ordinance, please visit the DWO web page at https://www.seattle.gov/laborstandards/ordinances/domestic-workers or call 206-256-5297.
###
|
