Domestic Workers Ordinance

The ordinance covers domestic workers (both employees and independent contractors) who provide paid services to an individual or household in a private home as a nanny, house cleaner, home care worker, gardener, cook, and/or household manager. Domestic Worker Rights - effective July 1, 2019.

1. Payment of Seattle's minimum wage.

• Domestic workers in Seattle have the right to earn the Seattle minimum wage. See Seattle Minimum Wage Ordinance.

2. Provision of meal periods and rest breaks.

• Domestic workers have the right to a 30-minute, uninterrupted meal period when they work for more than five consecutive hours for the same hiring entity.

• Domestic workers must be allowed a paid 10-minute uninterrupted rest break for each four consecutive hours of work for the same hiring entity.

• If a domestic worker's work responsibilities make it impossible or infeasible to take a meal period or rest break, the hiring entity must provide additional compensation for the missed meal period or rest break.

3. Provision of a day of rest after working more than six consecutive days (live-in workers only).

• Domestic workers who are required to work more than six consecutive days for the same hiring entity have the right to an unpaid 24-hour period of consecutive rest.

4. Retention of original documents or other personal effects.

• Hiring entities are not allowed to retain a domestic worker's original documents or other personal effects (e.g. passport).

Labor Standards

Steven Marchese, Director
Address: 810 3rd Avenue, Suite 375, Seattle, WA, 98104-1627
Phone: (206) 256-5297
Email: laborstandards@seattle.gov