OLYMPIA – The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee has signed off on legislation that will establish protections shielding isolated workers from sexual harassment, discrimination and assault. Sponsored by Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, House Bill 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. The bill also expands the definition of ‘isolated employee’ to capture the different types of working environments. Finally, it provides more clarification for employers, like hotels and motels, around panic buttons to ensure isolated workers are provided this important security measure.
“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. We’ve heard from advocates who want to make sure that all hospitality workers have recourse when boundaries are crossed. I am proud to be championing this bill.”
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.
House Bill 1524 will now head to the House Appropriations Committee for further consideration. This year’s 105-day legislative session is scheduled to end on April 27, 2025.