For the latest, business and worker guidance related to Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery, visit the Governor’s website. Our county/region status page has information about how to find out which phase your region is in and what’s open.

• Reopening Guidance for Business and Workers
• Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Workplace and Employer Resources & Recommendations
• Ask questions about the Healthy Washington plan
• Submit an anonymous report of businesses you think are not complying with Healthy Washington
• Read our Frequently Asked Questions

Facial Covering Guidance

• Governor’s cloth facial covering guidance

Workplace Safety Requirements for All Employers
These requirements generally encompass facial coverings, personal protective equipment, physical distancing, hand sanitation, surface sanitation, employee education, policy for ill employees and legal compliance.

• Requirements for All Employers (see Page 5)
• L&I Summary of Mandatory General Requirements for Employers
• L&I Employee Education Presentation Template (PPT, 5,400 KB)

General Workplace Safety
State law requires employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace, and it protects workers from retaliation. These basic obligations remain in effect during this pandemic.

• General workplace safety guidance
• High-risk worker proclamation
• File wrongful employer retaliation complaint

CARES Act
The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act mobilized a number of programs to support the American economy.
Provisions included paycheck protection for workers, small business debt relief, economic injury disaster loans, small business counseling and contracting, and tax provisions.

• CARES Act Homepage
• Small Business Owner’s Guide to the CARES Act

Paycheck Protection Program
The Paycheck Protection Program is a forgivable loan issued by the U.S. Small Business Administration to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the pandemic.

• SBA Paycheck Protection Program Homepage

Federal Economic Impact Payments
Many American families received federal stimulus checks, a provision of the CARES Act.

• IRS Economic Impact Payment Information Center

Small Business Administration

• Disaster assistance loans

Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Guidance on preparing workplaces for COVID-19 from the United States Department of Labor

Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)
L&I is for workplace safety and rights for workers. They will also serve as an enforcement arm of Safe Start restrictions.

• Workplace Safety Call Center: 1-800-423-7233
• Workplace safety guidance
• Request free workplace safety consultation
• Emergency authority to cite businesses
• COVID-19 L&I Homepage
  • News, paid sick leave, workers’ compensation, workplace safety resources.

Employment Security Department (ESD)
ESD is offering relief to affected workers and information to businesses statewide that may help them employ and retain their workers.

• ESD COVID-19 Homepage
• Worker Q&A
• Employer Q&A
• Report Unemployment Fraud
• Information for employers on Standby work

Department of Health (DOH)
DOH is a primary source for data on the coronavirus and guidance to slow the spread.

• Resources and Recommendations
• Frequently Asked Questions

Department of Commerce (COM)
Commerce is responding to the crisis by arranging funding, grants, loans, and resources for Washington businesses.

• Small business grants and financial assistance
• Drive-In WiFi Hotspot Locator
• Small Business Back-to-Work Planner
• Small Business Resiliency Assistance

Insurance Information
The Office of the Insurance Commissioner has information about insurance coverage businesses need to protect themselves from potential losses.

Guidance from OIC for businesses about keeping employees on their health insurance plans.

For information employers can share with employees about the health insurance options available through Washington Health plan finder (includes free and low-cost options for those who will or have lost employer-sponsored coverage), please visit the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Coronavirus FAQ Page.

• Spanish (PDF, 79.97 KB)
• Vietnamese (PDF, 105.63 KB)
• Russian (PDF, 91.24 KB)
• Traditional Chinese (PDF, 184.11 KB)
• Simplified Chinese (PDF, 179.97 KB)
• Korean (PDF, 105.69 KB)

Liquor and Cannabis Board
Administration and enforcement of liquor, cannabis, tobacco and vapor laws

• Resources and information for licensees and the public during the COVID-19 state restrictions period

Washington State Department of Agriculture
Administration and support for the agriculture community

• COVID-19 information for agriculture and food businesses

Washington State Human Rights Commission
The Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC) is a state agency responsible for administering and enforcing the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

• Guidance on COVID-19 and Non-discrimination Laws

• SCORE
  • Nonprofit association for entrepreneurs and small businesses
• Guidance from the Association of Washington Businesses
• Washington Small Business Development Center
  • COVID-19 information Updates and info about loans, business planning resources and more

The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting everyone. Your employees are likely experiencing new levels of stress and anxiety or grappling with feelings of isolation and depression. You might notice employees are more irritable, forgetful or have difficulty focusing. This is a normal response to the kind of crisis situation we’ve been experiencing. These resources can help you support your employees as they return to work.

If your company offers an employee assistance program, be sure to remind your workers how to make use of that benefit.

• Signs of psychological impacts and support strategies for heavily impacted workers and individuals (eg, healthcare workers, law enforcement, shelter workers, etc)
• Resource website to share with employees
• Washington Listens: online resources and hotline for people experiencing high levels of stress and just need to talk it out. 1-833-681-0211

Unemployment
Workers affected by the pandemic may be eligible for unemployment benefits. Regular unemployment benefits are available for workers experiencing layoffs or reduced hours through no fault of their own. Expanded unemployment options may cover many workers ineligible for regular unemployment.

• ESD COVID-19 Homepage
• Worker Q&A
• Employer Q&A
• Expanded Unemployment
• Report Unemployment Fraud

You may have questions about resuming your operations and bringing employees back to the workplace. For example, can employees refuse offers of work and continue to collect unemployment benefits? In some situations, the answer may be “yes”.

• ESD Return-To-Work FAQ

SharedWork may be a suitable option. Businesses that can reduce work hours by 10-50%, instead of laying off an employee, keep that worker employed while remaining eligible for shared work and CARES Act benefits.

• ESD SharedWork Program

WorkSource Washington is a powerful job-match site for workers searching for the right opportunity and employers looking for the right candidate. Employers can post unlimited job postings, automatically rank applicants, and compare candidates side-by-side. Job seekers can use advanced search tools to browse thousands of openings.

• WorkSource Washington

Paid Sick Leave
Workers may use accrued paid sick leave if their employer is shut down due to a health-related reason, including COVID-19.

• L&I Paid Sick Leave FAQ
• Requirements for paid sick leave balances

Additionally, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide workers with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

• FFCRA Employee Paid Leave Rights

Paid Family and Medical Leave
Paid Family and Medical Leave is available to workers that require time off to care for themselves or a family member due to a qualifying event, such as a serious health condition or a new baby. This benefit also applies to military deployments and returns from deployment.

• Paid Family and Medical Leave COVID-19 FAQ
• How Paid Leave Works

• The state Emergency Management Division has activated resources for state and local governments, tribal governments and to certain non-profits.
  • The Public Assistance (PA) Program is helping for these organizations seeking federal assistance.
    • Information on federal assistance
    • Submit questions about federal assistance
  • The Recovery program has resources available. The Washington Emergency Management Division has developed the Washington Recovery Resource Guide which compiles available financial, informational, material and other resources that can be essential in restoring your community
• The state’s Office of Financial Management can help governments manage various workplace issues related to COVID-19.
  • HR information for state agencies
• The Department of Enterprise Services offers services for state agencies and municipal governments including facilities and lease management, accounting, human resources, risk management, contracting and printing.
  • DES COVID-19 Information
• The Department of Commerce has compiled a list of federal and state funding available to local governments.
  • Resources available to local governments during COVID-19