Several King County cities, including Seattle, require hotels to retain incumbent workers for a transition period when the property changes hands, modeled on Seattle's Hotel Employees Health and Safety Initiative passed in 2016.
Seattle voters passed Initiative 124 in 2016, replaced and expanded by 2019 Council legislation under SMC chapters 14.25 through 14.28. Among other protections, hotels with 60 or more rooms must offer continued employment to incumbent workers for 90 days when ownership or operator changes. Workers cannot be terminated without cause during the transition, except for performance reasons. Unincorporated King County does not have a general retention rule, but covered hotels in Seattle, SeaTac, and other cities are subject to retention and other protections. State labor law preempts wage but not retention rules.
Failing to provide retention offers, retaliating against retained workers, or terminating without cause during the 90-day window can trigger lawsuits, back pay, reinstatement, and civil penalties under city wage and labor laws.
Kirkland, WA
Leaf blowers and power equipment are restricted to 8 AM to 8 PM weekdays and 9 AM to 6 PM on weekends and holidays under KMC 11.84A. Kirkland has not adopted...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland sits about 20 miles north of Sea-Tac and is lightly affected by commercial flights. Kenmore Air seaplanes and Renton Municipal general aviation caus...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban, but enforces the 72-hour rule, signed residential permit zones, and no-parking signs at parks, tra...
Kirkland, WA
Kirkland driveways must remain paved, accessible, and used for vehicle parking per KMC Title 115 zoning code, which limits front-yard paving and requires app...
Kirkland, WA
EV charging in Kirkland follows the Washington State Energy Code, which requires EV-ready capacity in new multifamily and commercial parking and protects pub...
Kirkland, WA
Under KZC 115.40, Kirkland fences may be up to 6 feet except within 15 feet of a street curb. Properties on a neighborhood access or collector street are cap...
See how Kirkland's hotel worker retention rules stack up against other locations.
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