For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Santana/Communications Manager 206-256-5219 -cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards begins public rulemaking process for the Hotel Employees Health and Safety Initiative
Seattle – (January 18, 2018) – The Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces the beginning of its administrative rule development process for the Hotel Employees Health & Safety Initiative (HEHS).
The HEHS ordinance ensures that hotel employers protect hotel employees from assault and harassment, safeguard workers from injury, promote access to healthcare, and support job stability when ownership changes.
Administrative rules are legally enforceable and clarify the rights and responsibilities of those impacted by the ordinance. The HEHS ordinance covers hotels with 60 or more guest rooms, with greater requirements for those with 100 or more guest rooms.
The process will involve hearing from a range of stakeholders, including businesses, workers, and worker representatives, and will allow for discussion and input on key issues, including but not limited to specific requirements to protect workers from sexual harassment, and compensation for the cost of employee medical coverage. Discussions will also include the scope of OLS’s enforcement authority; the predominant enforcement authority for the ordinance currently lies with the courts.
Following the initial launch on January 18, OLS will host a series of stakeholder meetings from late January through March, and plans for proposed rules in April and final rules in May.
Please contact Jeneé Jahn, Policy Analyst, at jenee.jahn@seattle.gov for more information and to express interest in joining us.
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