Seattle, WA Employment Preemption: Worker Scheduling Preemption (2026)

Secure Scheduling — Ordinance: SMC 14.22; Rules: SHRR Chapter 120. Seattle's Secure Scheduling Ordinance went into effect on July 1, 2017. Coverage: Covers hourly employees at retail and food services establishments with 500+ employees worldwide. Full service restaurants also must have 40+ full-service locations worldwide. The Secure Scheduling Ordinance requires employers to: Display a Secure Scheduling workplace poster in English and employees' primary language(s) in a conspicuous and accessible place. Provide a written good faith estimate of median hours employees can expect to work and whether employees will work on-call shifts to new employees at the time of hire, and to current employees on an annual basis and when there is a significant change to employees' schedules. Post work schedules at least 14 days in advance, and respect employees' right to decline any hours not on originally posted schedules. [...] Pay time-and-a-half for any hours worked between closing and opening shifts that are separated by less than 10 hours. Pay the following compensation for each employer-requested schedule change after the schedule is posted (unless an exception applies): One hour of pay for hours added to a shift or when a shift date or time is changed. Half of the hours not worked when an employee is sent home early from a shift. Half the hours not worked when an employee is scheduled for an on-call shift and is not called-in. Keep records for three years to show compliance.