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Washington Employment & Wage Lawyer

Blackstone Law has represented California employees from its Beverly Hills headquarters, and now brings that practice to Washington. Our Washington cases are led by Jacob Karczewski, who has spent 17 years litigating thousands of class and PAGA cases across the West Coast and is admitted to practice in Washington and California. If you work in Washington and your employer has shorted your pay, cut your breaks, misclassified your job, or retaliated against you for speaking up, we want to hear about it.

Call our Washington team: (206) 441-2500

How Washington Employment Law Differs From California

Washington wage claims are not California claims with the names changed. The differences shape how a case is brought from day one.

Group claims: There is no equivalent to California’s PAGA. Claims for a group of workers are brought as class actions.
Willfully withheld wages: The Wage Rebate Act allows double damages, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
Meal and rest breaks: Set by state regulation: a 30-minute meal period on shifts over five hours, and a paid 10-minute rest break for every four hours worked.
Paid sick leave: At least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked.
Discrimination: The Washington Law Against Discrimination has no cap on damages and does not require filing with an agency before suing.

Washington Employment Cases We Handle

Unpaid wages and overtime. Time and a half for hours over 40 in a week, under the Washington Minimum Wage Act, including off-the-clock work and miscalculated pay.
Meal and rest breaks. Breaks that are cut short, interrupted, or impossible to take because of how shifts are scheduled.
Willfully withheld wages. Pay an employer knowingly holds back, which can carry double damages under the Wage Rebate Act.
Misclassification. Workers labeled independent contractors who should be treated as employees.
Paid sick leave. Leave that is not provided, not tracked, or punished when used.
Equal pay and pay transparency. Pay ranges missing from job postings, and unequal pay under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act.
Noncompete agreements. Washington limits noncompetes by earnings and length, and requires them to be disclosed up front.
Discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Claims under the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
Final pay and deductions. Withheld final paychecks, unlawful deductions and unpaid commissions.

What a Washington Case Costs

Nothing up front. We take Washington employment cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you. Your first consultation is free and confidential, and talking to us does not commit you to anything.

Frequently Asked Questions About Washington Employment Cases

Q: Is Blackstone Law licensed to practice in Washington?
A: Jacob Karczewski, who leads Blackstone Law’s Washington practice, is admitted to practice in Washington and California. Not every Blackstone Law attorney is admitted in Washington.

Q: Can I get double damages for unpaid wages in Washington?
A: In some cases, yes. Under Washington’s Wage Rebate Act, an employer that willfully withholds wages can be liable for twice the amount withheld, plus attorney’s fees and costs. Whether it applies depends on the facts of your case.

Q: Does Washington have a law like California’s PAGA?
A: No. Washington has no PAGA equivalent, so claims on behalf of a group of workers are generally brought as class actions.

Q: How much does it cost to talk to Blackstone Law about a Washington case?
A: Nothing. The consultation is free, and we take Washington employment cases on contingency, so you pay nothing unless we recover for you.

Talk to Us About Your Washington Case

Many of our cases start with one person who noticed a pattern affecting a whole shift, store, or region. If something about your hours, pay, breaks, or job title doesn’t look right, it’s worth a conversation.