For Immediate Release
August 28, 2020
Contact: Cynthia Santana, Communications Manager, 206-256-5219
cynthia.santana@seattle.gov
Seattle Office of Labor Standards Announces Adjusted Rates for Improving Access to Medical Care for Hotel Employees Ordinance 2021 Healthcare Expenditures
Seattle- (August 28, 2020) – The Seattle Office of Labor Standards (OLS) announces the adjusted rates for 2021 healthcare expenditures required by the Improving Access to Medical Care Hotel Employees Ordinance, Seattle Municipal Code (SMC) 14.28.
Covered employers include those that own, control, or operate either a Seattle hotel or motel with 100 or more guest rooms or an “ancillary hotel business” of 50 or more employees worldwide.
Covered employers must make healthcare expenditures to or on behalf of each covered employee to improve their access to medical care. The amounts of the healthcare expenditure are adjusted each calendar year. Please see the OLS website and our resources on this law.
For the 2021 calendar year (January 1 to December 31, 2021), the adjusted rates are:
- $437 per month for an employee with no spouse, domestic partner, or dependents
- $743 per month for an employee with only dependents
- $874 per month for an employee with only a spouse or domestic partner
- $1,310 per month for an employee with a spouse or domestic partner and one or more dependents
This law has varied effective dates, depending on the type and size of the covered employers. For some, it went into effect on July 1, 2020. For more information about when the law goes into effect for different employers, please visit the Office of Labor Standards webpage on this law.
Updated Questions and Answers document and Hotel Employee and Ancillary Hotel Employee Notices of Rights posters containing these adjusted rates will be available before the adjusted rates take effect. Currently, both posters containing the 2020 rates, available in 11 different languages, can be found here.
For more information on the Improving Access to Medical Care for Hotel Employees Ordinance and the other Hotel Employees Protections Ordinances please visit the Office of Labor Standards webpage.
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