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A Washington employment contract is drafted by an employer to define the duties, rights, and legal obligations of a new employee. It sets in place the conditions that were agreed upon when the employee accepted the position, including the designated job title, work responsibilities, employment duration, benefits, vacation days, and financial compensation (including any commissions or bonuses).
Employers have the option of implementing a non-compete clause. If included, the employee would be prohibited from engaging with competitors or working in similar industries or geographical areas post-termination.
Contents |
Types (2)
Independent Contractor Agreement – Establishes a working relationship between a contractor and a client.
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Subcontractor Agreement – Allows a contractor to transfer all or a portion of their contractual obligations to a subcontractor.
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Laws
- Labor Statutes: Title 49
- Definition of Employee: RCW 49.46.010(3)
- Minimum Wage: State Min. – $14.49/hr (RCW 49.46.020(2) & Dept. of Labor and Industries)
- Overtime: One and a half (1.5) times the employee’s standard wage (Dept. of Labor and Industries).
- Record Keeping: Payroll records must be kept for three (3) years (WAC 296-128-020); personnel files must be kept for two (2) years after an employee’s termination (RCW 49.12.250).
At-Will Employment
Permitted? Yes, at-will employment is legal in Washington. Employers can fire at-will employees for any reason or for no reason, as long as the termination does not violate the law. At-will employees cannot be fired for any of the following reasons:
- Discrimination;
- Protected leave;
- Filing or attempting to file for workers’ compensation.