OLYMPIA – The governor has signed legislation, Sponsored by Rep. Brianna Thomas, which aims to improve rest breaks for hospital workers in Washington.
Current law stipulates that meal breaks should take place between the first two to five hours of an eight-hour shift, even though many hospital workers’ shifts are much longer than that. House Bill 1879, allows hospitals to waive break timing requirements when workers and hospitals voluntarily and mutually agree to do so. This provides more flexibility to hospitals and allows the timing of meal breaks to better reflect the realities of a hospital shift.
“When our neighbors or their family members are sick or injured, hospital workers step up and care for us. They are there at our worst times and we are stepping up for them to meet their needs,” said Thomas. “Breaks should be enforced but should also make sense for their schedules. I am proud this bill will now be law.”
This legislation improves upon legislation passed in 2023 to improve healthcare workforce shortages, and retention challenges by enforcing meal and rest breaks for hospital staff.
With the governor’s signature, House Bill 1879 becomes law, effective January 1, 2026.