OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives passed House Bill 1524 Wednesday, expanding protections for isolated employees in Washington. Sponsored by Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, establishes protections shielding isolated workers such as housekeepers, security guards, and janitors, from sexual harassment and assault.
A recent AFL-CIO study reported that up to 53 percent of hotel workers experience sexual harassment. It also outlined how hospitality and property service workers are uniquely vulnerable to sexual harassment and assault due to the isolated nature of their work. House Bill 1524 aims to address this trend in Washington.
“Hospitality workers deserve protection from toxic work environments, especially when sexual harassment is involved,” said Obras. “They deserve the dignity of a workplace safe from such behavior, and some employers are not doing enough to comply with current laws.”
HB 1524 requires employers to submit reports to the Department of Labor and Industries and establishes an enforcement mechanism to ensure previously enacted protections are followed. This bill provides a framework to allow L&I to hold employers accountable when not complying with the law and provides more clarification for employers, like hotels and motels, around panic buttons to ensure isolated workers are provided this important security measure.
This is the first bill Obras has passed off the House floor.
House Bill 1524 now heads to the Senate for consideration after receiving approval with a vote of 86-10. The 105-day legislative session is scheduled to end on April 27.