WashingtonWashington treats some workers who volunteer for layoffs as unemployed
Starting June 14, 2026, Washington treats some workers who volunteer for a planned layoff and then lose their jobs as unemployed through no fault of their own when deciding benefit eligibility.
What it does
Workers laid off after volunteering for a planned workforce reduction are treated as unemployed through no fault of their own when the commissioner decides whether they qualify for benefits.
Argument forWorkers who volunteer for a planned layoff could qualify for benefits if the employer later ends their jobs, even if they could withdraw.
Argument againstEmployers could face unemployment benefit claims from workers who volunteered for a planned layoff and were later let go under that plan.
More detail
The law treats certain workers as unemployed through no fault of their own when deciding whether they qualify for benefits. It covers workers whose jobs end because of an employer’s planned layoff or workforce reduction. The commissioner must find that the employer first announced the planned workforce reduction in writing and said employees could volunteer, that the worker volunteered, and that the employer ended the worker’s job because of the plan. An employer may let workers withdraw their offers; that option does not disqualify a worker if the other requirements are met. The rule does not apply when an employer changes benefits or encourages early retirement or separation and the employer and worker do not meet these requirements. The rule applies to workers separated from employment on or after June 14, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 23Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 23Chapter 150, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 23Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 11President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#31). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 24Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 23Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 23LC - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 23Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor & Commerce at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 12First reading, referred to Labor & Commerce.Minor
- Feb 10Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#3). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Jan 27Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 20Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 16LAWS - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 16Executive action taken in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 13Public hearing in the House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Labor & Workplace Standards.Minor
- Jan 6Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
Economy & Jobs