Reminder to employers: On July 1, 2025, Washington’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act (“EPOA”) expanded by extending protections to a broader set of protected classes beyond gender. Protected classes under the EPOA now also include age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, honorably discharged veteran or military status, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, and the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, as those terms are defined in RCW 49.60.040. Employers must ensure that compensation practices and workplace policies are free from discrimination across this expanded list of protected classes.
View our recent video for information regarding the amendments Washington lawmakers made to the EPOA during the 2025 legislative session that will go into effect on July 27, 2025. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact any member of our Employment Law Advising & Employer Defense Litigation group. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact any member of our Employment Law Advising & Employer Defense Litigation group.
