L&I offers trainings to protect workers from sexual harassment

TUMWATER (May 26, 2021) — In 2019, the Washington State Legislature approved the Isolated Worker Protection law (ESSB 5258) with strong support from SEIU 6 Property Services NW and UNITE HERE Local 8. The new law requires hotel, motel, retail, security guard and property services employers to provide panic buttons for certain isolated workers, implement a sexual harassment policy, educate impacted employees about sexual harassment and assault, and provide a list of resources to employees to report harassment and assault. The law also requires property services contractors to report worker and contractor hours, locations, and certain training information to the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I).

“This bill will offer workers more protection,” SEIU 6 janitor Ambar Arellano said after the law was approved. “We need education in these industries so that everyone knows where to draw the line on inappropriate behavior. This will empower workers who have experienced harassment to speak up, and will help us stop people who are abusing their power.”

This summer, L&I will conduct several webinars about the new Isolated Worker Protection law and how it could impact workers. Each webinar will last approximately one hour, and each session will include the same material. Interpretation services for these sessions can be provided at no cost to you when you request them ahead of time. Send an email to languageaccess@lni.wa.gov to request interpretation services.

Please click here to sign up for one of the following training sessions.

●  Tuesday, June 15 at 10 a.m.
●  Wednesday, July 14 at 2 p.m.
●  Wednesday, August 25 at 2 p.m.
●  Wednesday, September 15 at 2 p.m.

If the dates and times all conflict with your schedule, contact us at ESGeneral@lni.wa.gov with the subject line “Isolated Worker Training” to arrange a private session.

“We know that a lot of workers in these industries are in survival mode,” said Zenia Javalera, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU 6 Property Services NW. “When you don’t know your rights and you depend on your job to put food on the table, you might be in a mindset to endure anything. (This new law) will send a signal to everyone in these industries that workers don’t have to just endure — they have the right to be safe and respected on the job, too.”

To stay up to date on the latest information about this law, the new reporting requirement, and reporting system, sign up for GovDelivery alerts. Please ensure you’re subscribed to “Isolated Worker Protection Project” by entering your email address and selecting “Subscriber Preferences.”