"Domestic work is the work that makes all other work possible. It's childcare. It's eldercare. It's the quiet, constant labor that lets our families and our city function. For generations, that work was treated as invisible, and domestic workers labored without the basic protections the rest of us take for granted,” said Mayor Wilson. “Today, we take another step toward fixing that injustice. These protections are the difference between a job and a livelihood, between vulnerability and dignity. To every domestic worker who has gone to work without the protections they deserved: this is for you." 

The amendments will strengthen the current DWO and include:   

• Requiring a written agreement between the hiring entity and domestic worker  

• Requiring hiring entities 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   

"I am proud of Seattle's historic leadership in passing the first Domestic Workers Bill of Rights in the U.S. over five years ago, and grateful to the state Legislature for extending these labor protections statewide. Our updated bill represents not only a powerful partnership between our Domestic Workers Standards Board, the Office of Labor Standards, and domestic workers, but also the City's continuing commitment to workers' rights, " said Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck (Citywide, Position 8).   

“These amendments were shaped by community feedback, thoughtful innovative policy research, and a shared commitment to ensuring domestic workers have protections they can count on,” said OLS Director Steven Marchese. “The new amendments will give hiring entities greater clarity about their responsibilities while also empowering domestic workers with stronger tools with which to exercise their rights.” 

“This is an empowering step forward for domestic workers in Seattle. These additional protections provide greater guidance, transparency and certainty about what is expected from us in the workplace and strengthen our ability to advocate for ourselves,” said Nanny, 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 becoming the 13th state to pass labor protections for domestic workers (SHB2355).