What happened?

On May 12, 2025, Governor Bob Ferguson signed Senate Bill 5104 into law, expanding protections for most workers in Washington State by prohibiting employers from using immigration status to threaten or coerce employees.

Overview:

“Employee” within the definitions of this law has several exclusions. See Section 1(3)(a-q) of the law to review further:

This law makes it illegal for employers to use a covered worker’s or their family member’s immigration status to pressure them into accepting:

• Unfair wages
• Unsafe or illegal working conditions
• Violations of labor standards

Key Protections

• Coercion is defined as using threats to force someone to act against their legal rights.
• Threats include any communication—explicit or implied—about immigration status used to stop a worker from asserting their rights.

How Covered Workers Are Protected

• Workers can file a complaint with the Department of Labor and Industries within 180 days of the coercive act.
• The Department can also investigate coercion discovered during other investigations, even without a new complaint.
• Personal information about workers and their families is kept confidential.

Penalties For Non-Compliance

• $1,000 for the first offense
• $5,000 for the second
• $10,000 for each additional offense
• Penalties apply per act per employee and will be adjusted for inflation every three years starting in 2028.

Source References

• Washington SB 5104 – Protecting employees from coercion in the workplace based on immigration status
• Hasegawa Bill Sponsor Press Release

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