Washington overtime rules change today

TUMWATER — Changes to the state’s overtime rules go into effect today, July 1.

Under the State Minimum Wage Act, the rules establish the criteria for which workers are considered exempt from receiving overtime pay and other protections.

The changes were announced last December by Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) after several public hearings and comments and input from over 2,400 people.

The update mostly concerns the “job duties test,” which helps determine which workers are considered executive, administrative and professional employees, as well as computer professionals and outside salespeople.

Workers who fall into these categories and earn more than the salary threshold can be considered exempt.

Starting July 1, the state will move from two job duties tests to a single test that is aligned more closely with federal standards. The test details what duties an employee must perform to be considered exempt, regardless of job title or description.

The state now bases the salary threshold on a multiplier of the state minimum wage. The threshold will increase incrementally until it reaches 2.5 times the minimum wage in 2028.

Employers will continue to follow the federal standard — salaried workers need to earn at least $684 per week to be exempt from overtime — for the rest of 2020 but will have to meet the state threshold beginning Jan. 1, 2021, when it exceeds the federal level.

More information can be found on L&I’s website, such as on the rulemaking page and Resource Center.