Washington has no state income tax, but it runs its own workers' compensation system and a first-of-its-kind long-term care fund. From L&I premiums to Paid Family & Medical Leave, WorkGenius becomes your legal employer — keeping you fully compliant across Seattle, Bellevue, and beyond.
Unlike 47 other states where employers can buy private workers' comp insurance, Washington requires all employers to participate in the state-run Labor & Industries (L&I) fund. Rates vary by job classification — and getting the classification wrong means underpayment penalties or overpayment you can't easily recover.
Get AB5-Compliant TodayWashington's unique state programs — L&I, PFML, and WA Cares — require separate registrations, filings, and remittances. We manage all of them.
Registration, job classification, quarterly premium calculations, and remittances to Washington L&I — handled for every worker.
Employer and employee PFML contributions calculated, withheld, and remitted each payroll cycle. Leave claims supported through the state portal.
Washington's long-term care premium deducted correctly per payroll. Exemption documentation tracked for eligible opt-out employees.
Seattle's tiered minimum wage (based on employer size) applied automatically. Accurate overtime for all hourly workers.
Accrual at 1 hour per 40 worked, carryover tracking, and correct payout at termination where applicable — all automated.
Employment contracts that respect the non-compete earnings threshold and reflect Washington's broad anti-retaliation provisions.
Washington has no state income tax — but it layers on unique obligations most EOR providers miss: a state-monopoly workers' comp system, mandatory PFML contributions, and the WA Cares long-term care fund. WorkGenius handles all three automatically.
Beyond L&I, Washington stacks several state-specific programs that require careful administration.
Washington's PFML provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for qualifying family or medical reasons. Both employers (with 50+ employees) and employees contribute, with premiums recalculated each year.
The first state-run long-term care program in the US. Employees pay 0.58% of gross wages. Workers who purchased qualifying private long-term care insurance before November 2021 may apply for an exemption.
Washington requires employers with 15+ employees to include salary ranges in job postings. Employers must also disclose wage ranges to existing employees who apply for internal transfers.
Non-compete agreements are unenforceable for employees earning less than $100,000/year (adjusted annually for inflation) or independent contractors earning less than $250,000. Agreements must be disclosed at offer stage.
From first conversation to fully compliant employment — typically within days.
Workers, roles, locations, and start dates. We tailor the setup to your needs.
Our AI runs every worker through California's ABC test. We prepare compliant contracts and payroll setup.
Onboarded with California-compliant contracts, benefits enrolled, payroll running from day one.
Payroll runs with daily OT. Taxes filed. Compliance monitored. One weekly invoice.
Washington is one of four monopoly states — only the state-run L&I fund is permitted. Employers who fail to register and pay premiums face fines, stop-work orders, and personal liability for any worker injuries. WorkGenius registers with L&I and remits all premiums on your behalf before your first Washington employee starts.
Washington's Paid Family & Medical Leave provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave (18 for certain pregnancy-related conditions). Premiums are shared: employees contribute roughly 72% of the total premium; employers with 50+ employees contribute ~28%. WorkGenius manages withholding, employer contributions, and quarterly reporting to the Employment Security Department.
Yes, unless a worker has an approved exemption from the state. The premium is 0.58% of gross wages, entirely employee-paid. Workers who held qualifying private long-term care insurance before November 2021 may have received an exemption letter from the state. WorkGenius tracks exemption status for each worker and applies deductions accordingly.
No — Washington has no personal income tax, which simplifies some payroll administration. However, the state offsets this with L&I premiums, PFML contributions, and the WA Cares Fund, all of which require careful calculation. WorkGenius handles all state-specific withholdings and contributions accurately.
Yes. Seattle has its own minimum wage ordinance that's higher than the state rate. For 2024, large employers (500+ globally) must pay at least $19.97/hr; smaller employers pay $17.25/hr with qualifying medical benefits or $18.69/hr without. WorkGenius applies the correct Seattle rate based on your company size automatically.
WorkGenius handles AB5 classification, California payroll, benefits, and every other compliance requirement so you don't have to. Get started today.
No commitment required. Free consultation included.