Tech Worker Rights in Washington State: What Start-up Owners Need to Know

Starting your own business is exciting, and it is even more outstanding when you have tremendous success. You get to improve your standard of living by having more financial freedom. Rapid growth is taking place in the tech industry, as this sector now makes up 9.4% of the workforce in Washington. Even though this is exciting, you must make sure you are following all laws concerning workers’ rights, especially if you plan to hire employees to work with you, as making one small mistake can cost you everything.

Non‑Compete Restrictions Are Getting Tighter

Many tech companies use noncompete agreements as a means of protecting their interests. An example of such an interest is a company trade secret. What usually happens when an employee signs one of these documents is that they are restricted from taking a similar job in that industry for a specific period, or they may be restricted from working within a specific geographical location. Not all agreements are the same, as each has its own terms, and this will depend on what the employer deems best.

Washington state, however, is tightening restrictions on the use of noncompete agreements. For example, a worker must earn more than a minimum compensation amount, and this changes every year. So, it is critical that you keep up to date with these changes. Furthermore, those who are eligible to receive a noncompete agreement must not be restricted for any longer than 18 months, unless you are able to prove that a longer duration is required to protect the interests of your company.

If the employee you are hiring can receive a noncompete agreement, then you must present it immediately upon hiring them. And if you lay off an employee who has signed such a document, then you are responsible for paying them for the entire time it is in effect, as they will need a means to survive until they can procure another job.

Protecting Whistleblowers & Employee Speech

Employees have whistle blower protections under state law. They can report harassment to the authorities, even if they have signed a noncompete agreement. There are a few ways that employees can file reports. They can contact a hotline or submit paperwork. You cannot retaliate, or your company will face some steep fines and penalties.

Situations involving claims of workplace discrimination could also arise if you are not proactive in identifying and preventing them. Having a plan in place will protect you should these issues arise.

Salary Transparency

Washington state equal pay laws require that all salaries be disclosed. If your company has 15 or more employees, then you are expected to comply.

When you are transparent, is not only an ethical business practice, you build trust and strong morale within the company, and gain the respect of the community.

It is essential that you stay abreast of what is currently happening in the legal landscape because when you do, you have a higher chance of attracting some of the top talent in the market, and you can avoid legal troubles. Make sure you scrutinize all your contracts, update all your policies to reflect compliance and teach all your management staff about the laws so that they can treat their subordinates ethically. In doing this, you will build a company culture that demonstrates respect for tech workers’ rights.

If you really want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row, you may want to go over everything with a fine-toothed comb with a trained legal professional. They can find problems and advise you on what to do to get compliant. Paying a legal professional now can save you thousands of dollars in legal fees down the line, which can potentially make you bankrupt.