Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster in Spokane, Washington (2026)
Your employees have the right to information, and failure to post this notice can lead to workplace disputes and penalties for non-compliance. To operate legally in Spokane, Washington, you must display the state-required Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster (also called the mandatory workplace notice) from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
- 19 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 16
- $0–$0 government filing fees
- Varies for posting and compliance
Most applicants complete this in under 15 minutes with ApronPrep, which auto-fills 16 of 19 fields.
Analyzed from Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
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Why You Need a Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
You are required by Washington state law to display a Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster in a conspicuous location where all employees can see it. This mandate originates from several state statutes, including the Washington Minimum Wage Act (RCW 49.46) for general posting rules, the Washington Paid Sick Leave law (RCW 49.46.200), and other relevant laws covering tips and prevailing wage. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) is the issuing and enforcing authority. In Spokane, while there is no separate city-specific paid sick leave ordinance, your business must comply with these state requirements. The poster informs employees of their rights to accrue and use sick leave, as well as other critical wage and hour protections.
Failing to post this mandatory notice carries significant legal and financial risks for your restaurant. Based on enforcement actions by L&I, the primary consequences include:
- Civil Penalties: L&I can issue citations with fines for each violation of the posting requirement. These penalties are separate from any wages owed.
- Back Wage Liability: If an employee files a complaint and it's found they were not properly informed of their rights, you could be liable for back pay for any sick leave improperly denied, plus interest.
- Increased Scrutiny & Audits A violation for missing a mandatory poster can trigger a broader L&I inspection of your payroll, overtime, and break period practices, leading to additional penalties.
- Legal Vulnerabilities: The absence of the required poster weakens your defense in employee disputes or wage theft claims, potentially exposing you to treble (triple) damages in certain wage recovery lawsuits.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: In 2025, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries updated the official combined poster to include clarifications on the use of paid sick leave for family care and updated contact information; ensure you are displaying the current version.
Who Needs a Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | All employers with at least one employee in Washington state are covered by the paid sick leave law (RCW 49.46.200) and must post the official notice. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Applies if you employ one or more workers, including bartenders and servers, per the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) poster requirement. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required if you have employees; the mobile nature of the business does not exempt you from state worker notice laws under RCW 49.46.200. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Mandatory for all Washington employers with employees; there is no small business exemption for the paid sick leave poster. |
See which restaurant types need this requirement — and which don't.
See Full Requirements →Field-by-Field Guide (19 Fields)
16 of 19 auto-filledBusiness Legal Name
textEnter the exact legal business name as it appears on your Washington Secretary of State business registration, Articles of Incorporation, or your IRS SS-4 (EIN) letter, without DBA or 'doing business as' names.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a trade name (DBA) instead of the registered legal entity name, which can lead to confusion and non-compliance verification delays.
Has Washington Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any employees whose primary work location is in Washington state, including part-time, full-time, and temporary staff covered under RCW 49.46.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' if you have any Washington-based staff, which is the primary trigger for this mandatory posting requirement under state law.
Number of Washington Employees
numberEnter the total count of all individuals employed in Washington, used to verify your business size and ensure the correct poster version is provided by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries.
COMMON MISTAKE: Including independent contractors or out-of-state staff, or providing an inaccurate count that differs from payroll records, which can cause enforcement issues.
Primary Workplace Address
addressEnter the complete physical street address (not a P.O. Box) of your main restaurant location in Spokane, as required by L&I for jurisdiction and verification purposes.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a corporate headquarters address outside of Spokane or Washington, which fails to establish the local worksite covered by the posting mandate.
Multiple Workplace Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate more than one establishment in Washington (e.g., a second kitchen, food truck base, or catering facility) where employees report for work.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' when operating multiple sites, leading to an incomplete posting plan and potential fines at unlisted locations.
Additional Workplace Locations
textIf you have multiple locations, list the addresses of all other Washington worksites where the Paid Sick Leave poster must be physically displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Omitting addresses for secondary sites like commissary kitchens or administrative offices where employees work, creating compliance gaps.
Employee Primary Languages
textList the primary languages spoken by your Washington workforce (e.g., 'English, Spanish, Russian') to determine if translated poster versions from L&I are required for meaningful access.
COMMON MISTAKE: Failing to list languages spoken by a significant portion of the workforce, which can violate the 'readily understandable' requirement under Washington Administrative Code 296-128-800.
Has Suitable Posting Location
booleanConfirm you have identified a conspicuous place where notices to employees are customarily posted, such as a break room, time clock area, or kitchen bulletin board, as mandated by L&I.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without a verified, accessible location, leading to improper display and failure during a potential L&I inspection.
Planned Posting Locations
textDescribe the specific, permanent spots where the poster will be placed (e.g., 'Break room bulletin board next to time clock,' 'Office entrance hallway'), ensuring they meet L&I visibility standards.
COMMON MISTAKE: Listing temporary or inaccessible locations (e.g., 'in a manager's office'), which does not satisfy the requirement for employee access under WAC 296-128-800.
Needs Translated Poster
booleanBased on the languages you listed, indicate if you need an official L&I translated poster version in addition to English, required when a significant portion of your workforce does not understand English.
COMMON MISTAKE: Incorrectly selecting 'No' when non-English speakers are present, risking violations for failing to provide the notice in a 'language understood by the employee' per RCW 49.46.010.
ApronPrep auto-fills 16 of 19 fields from a single compliance interview — no re-typing, no guessing what the government expects.
Top 5 Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster Mistakes
1. Using the Generic State Poster Without Spokane Addendums
Posting only the base Washington State Paid Sick Leave poster, which lacks the mandatory Spokane-specific information on paid sick leave accrual and use for domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. This violates Spokane Municipal Code (SMC) 8.02.080, leading to a non-compliance notice and potential fines of up to $1,000 per violation. To avoid, you must use the Spokane-specific poster provided by the City's Office of Civil Rights, Investigator, and Ombudsman, or a combined poster that includes both state and local requirements.
2. Placing the Poster in an Inaccessible Location
Displaying the poster in a back office, manager's office, or other area not frequented by all employees. Washington law requires the poster be placed in a conspicuous and accessible location at each worksite. A non-visible poster fails the legal requirement, which can invalidate your defense in a wage claim dispute. Ensure it's posted where all employees can see it daily, such as a break room, near time clocks, or next to other mandatory labor law posters.
3. Failing to Update for Annual Rate Changes
Not updating the poster annually to reflect the new minimum wage, which directly affects the calculation of paid sick leave for exempt employees and the minimum rate for leave use. The poster must list the current year's minimum wage (e.g., $19.97 for 2026). Using an outdated poster with an old wage rate can lead to underpayment of sick leave wages, resulting in wage claims, back pay, and penalties. Check the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website each January for the updated poster or rate information.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
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Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster by City in Washington
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | ||
| Spokane | ||
| Tacoma |
Timeline: 1–2 Weeks (Most Applicants)
1. Access the Official Poster
Download the current Washington State Paid Sick Leave poster directly from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) website. You'll need a reliable internet connection and a printer. The state updates the poster language periodically, and using an outdated version can result in a compliance violation. The poster is a PDF file labeled “Mandatory Paid Sick Leave Poster” on the L&I Publications & Forms page.
2. Print and Assemble Materials
Print the poster in color or black and white on standard letter-size (8.5” x 11”) paper. Ensure your printer settings are correct to avoid cutting off any required text. You must post the notice in a conspicuous location where employees can easily read it, such as a break room or near time clocks. Gather tacks or tape to mount it. It's recommended you print a copy for your records and note the date you posted it, as L&I may ask for proof of compliance during an inspection.
3. Post the Notice
Physically post the printed notice in your Spokane restaurant. For compliance, it must be placed where all employees can see it, typically alongside other required workplace posters (like minimum wage and workers' compensation). The most common mistake is posting it in a manager's office or a low-traffic area, which violates the “conspicuous” requirement. Take a date-stamped photo after posting it as documentation for your files.
Where to Apply
Applications go to the Washington department of labor. Local procedures and fees may vary — select your city below.
Other Requirements You'll Need
This is one of 13 requirements for opening a restaurant in Washington.
ADA Compliance Self-Certification
federal
Alarm System Permit/Registration
local
Annual Report Filing
state
Application for Employer Identification Number
federal
See all co-required forms and how they connect to your compliance dossier.
See All RequirementsThe timeline varies. This is a compliance requirement you obtain and post, not a permit you apply for and receive from an agency. There is no formal application process or government processing window. The time required depends on sourcing or printing the correct, current poster design from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). Most restaurants complete this step within a few hours as part of their initial City Business License/Registration setup.
There are no government filing fees for the poster itself, as confirmed by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. The state provides free downloadable posters on its website. Your cost may be for printing or for purchasing a pre-printed poster from a commercial vendor. This is similar to other required postings, like those for E-Verify Enrollment.
No, posters are not transferable between locations in a formal sense. Each physical business location where you have employees must display its own compliant poster. If you move your restaurant within Spokane, you must post the current version of the poster at the new address. The requirement is tied to the worksite, not a business license number.
You do not 'renew' a poster. You are required to ensure the posted notice is the most current version mandated by state law. Washington L&I updates the official poster design when the law changes. It is your responsibility to check for updates, typically at the start of each calendar year, and replace outdated posters. Contact L&I to confirm the current version is always displayed.
During a routine inspection by L&I or another agency, the compliance officer will check that the official Washington Paid Sick Leave poster (and other required notices like minimum wage) is posted conspicuously where employees can easily see it. Non-compliance can result in citations and fines per Washington state law, even if no other permits, like a Building Permit, are being reviewed. Not legal advice — verify posting requirements with L&I.
About This Data
This guide is generated from ApronPrep's compliance dossier system, which uses 53 parallel AI authority experts to discover requirements, then downloads actual forms and generates field-level intelligence for each one.
For Washington specifically, we have analyzed compliance dossiers for 3 cities (Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma), generating Rich FILs (Form Intelligence Layers) with 19 form fields analyzed for this requirement. Fee data is sourced from actual county department fee schedules, not estimates.
Our data is verified against official government sources and updated when regulatory changes are detected. If you find an error, please report it — accuracy is our core commitment.
Sources
- State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
- Seattle — Department of Labor / Labor Standards
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