Equal Pay and Opportunities Act Proposed Rule (CR-102)
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) Employment Standards Program is seeking public comment on the proposed rules (CR-102) it is developing for the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). The program started its rulemaking effort on Aug. 6 by filing a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (CR-101).
The Employment Standards program is proposing the rules to prepare for upcoming changes to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act created by the 2024 passage of Substitute House Bill 1905. These rules will help employers comply with the law and help workers understand their new protections.
The bill expands existing worker protections against pay and promotion discrimination based on gender under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to include race, creed, military status, and other protected classes.
You can send written comments by mail by 5 p.m. PST on March 19 to:
In addition to written comments, L&I has scheduled two public hearings where you can provide testimony and written comments. A pre-hearing overview will occur 30 minutes prior to the start of each hearing. The pre-hearing overview will be an opportunity for L&I staff to provide a brief summary of the draft rule language, and answer questions from the public prior to the start of the formal hearing. The hearings are scheduled for:
March 4 at 3:30 p.m. with the overview at 3 p.m. This hearing is virtual only. The passcode is EPOA2025!. To join by phone (audio only), call 253-205-0468 or 253-215-8782. The meeting ID is 824 0565 2366 and the passcode is 746514953.
March 6 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held in room S117 at the L&I Tumwater building at 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater.
le pueden proporcionar servicios de interpretación sin costo alguno si los solicita con anticipación.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries’ (L&I) Employment Standards Program is seeking public comment on the proposed rules (CR-102) it is developing for the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (EPOA). The program started its rulemaking effort on Aug. 6 by filing a Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (CR-101).
The Employment Standards program is proposing the rules to prepare for upcoming changes to the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act created by the 2024 passage of Substitute House Bill 1905. These rules will help employers comply with the law and help workers understand their new protections.
The bill expands existing worker protections against pay and promotion discrimination based on gender under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act to include race, creed, military status, and other protected classes.
You can send written comments by mail by 5 p.m. PST on March 19 to:
In addition to written comments, L&I has scheduled two public hearings where you can provide testimony and written comments. A pre-hearing overview will occur 30 minutes prior to the start of each hearing. The pre-hearing overview will be an opportunity for L&I staff to provide a brief summary of the draft rule language, and answer questions from the public prior to the start of the formal hearing. The hearings are scheduled for:
March 4 at 3:30 p.m. with the overview at 3 p.m. This hearing is virtual only. The passcode is EPOA2025!. To join by phone (audio only), call 253-205-0468 or 253-215-8782. The meeting ID is 824 0565 2366 and the passcode is 746514953.
March 6 at 10:30 a.m. with the overview at 10 a.m. This hearing is in-person only and will be held in room S117 at the L&I Tumwater building at 7273 Linderson Way SW, Tumwater.
le pueden proporcionar servicios de interpretación sin costo alguno si los solicita con anticipación.
