Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee announced the extension of several proclamations in response to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The extensions were approved by the state Legislature.
 
Among the list, these are the proclamations that affect our workplace and working conditions as healthcare workers:

20-24.2 Requirements for Non-Urgent Medical and Dental Procedures

Requires hospitals participating in non-urgent procedures to establish COVID-19 committees with healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 status and impact, working with regional healthcare coalitions, etc. in monitoring COVID-19 status in communities, monitor supply of PPE, and more.
Date re-issued: Dec. 3, 2020

20-20.4 Department of Revenue Relief from Penalties, Fees, Interest, Due Dates

Waiving and suspending tax penalties, fees, interest, and due dates from the Department of Revenue.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021

20-30.11 Unemployment Benefit – Job Search Requirements

Persons on unemployment do not need to follow job search requirements.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021

Workers’ Compensation During the COVID-19 Emergency

The burden of proof is on the employer regarding whether a healthcare worker contracted COVID-19 in the workplace, and is eligible for workers’ compensation through L&I. The assumption is a healthcare worker did contract the virus at work.
Issued: April 10, 2020
Expires: After state of emergency ends

 

Updated April 9, 2021

20-46.3 High-Risk Employees: Workers’ Rights

Folks who meet the CDC’s definition of high-risk workers may be asked by their employers to provide medical verification of high risk status, and are not required to fully maintain all employer-related health insurance benefits, and can provide a 14-calendar-day notice as of April 9, 2021. Employers must continue to utilize available options for alternative work assignments, allow employee to use leave, and cannot take adverse action that would result in the employee being permanently replaced.
Date re-issued: February 8, 2021

Frequently Asked Questions

FURTHERMORE, for any high-risk worker who is unable to return to the workplace with or without accommodation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, employers remain prohibited from:

  1. Failing to utilize all available options for alternative work assignments to protect high-risk employees, if requested, from exposure to COVID-19; and
  2. Failing to permit any high-risk employee in a situation where an alternative work arrangement is not feasible to use any available employer-granted accrued leave or unemployment insurance, in any sequence, at the discretion of the employee; and
  3. Taking adverse employment action against any employee for exercising their rights under this Proclamation that would result in loss of the employee’s current employment position by permanent replacement; and
  4. Making changes to a high-risk employee’s accommodations under Proclamation 20-46, et seq., without providing the employee 14 calendar days’ advanced written notice itemizing the changes. Notice may be provided as early as April 9, 2021.

20-23.14 Ratepayer Assistance and Preservation of Essential Services

Utility shutoff moratorium, specifically water, power, or phone services.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021

20.65.2 Long Term Care – Workers, Facilities, and Resources

Waivers for specific training, testing and certification requirements as well as background check in long term care settings if the information can be processed during COVID-19, as well as extensions to review times and inspections related to Certificate of Need and Department of Health.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021

20-32.11 Department of Health – Health Care Workers

Waiving administrative requirements regarding licensure of health care providers.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021

20-36.7 Department of Health – Health Care Facilities and Hand Sanitizer

Suspension of administrative requirements to license health care facilities regarding production of hand sanitizer.
Date re-issued: Jan. 19, 2021