Under Senate Bill 5778, employees in Washington state are now protected if they refuse to attend employer meetings or view/listen to communications related to political and/or religious matters. The bill is slated to go into effect on June 6, 2024.

Employers are not allowed to threaten or take disciplinary action against an employee who refuses to:

• Participate in or attend an employer-sponsored meeting (or with the employer’s representative, agent, or designee) with the primary purpose of communicating the employer’s opinion on political or religious matters
• View or listen to a speech that communicates the employer’s opinion on religious or political matters

Additionally, employers may not require employees to attend such meetings. They cannot take action against employees who make good faith reports of violations or suspected violations of this law.

By definition, political matters are those related to elections for political parties, political office, proposals to change regulations or legislation, and/or deciding to support or join a political party or civic/community/labor/political/fraternal association.

Religious matters relate to religious practice and affiliation, as well as deciding to join or support a religious association or organization.

Some employers are exempt. Review the full bill for additional details.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.