Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster in Tacoma, Washington (2026)
State audits and employee complaints are more likely without the official Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster, also known as the mandatory notice, visibly posted in your Tacoma restaurant. This is a state-mandated labor law poster issued by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) that all employers must display. Key facts:
- 19 fields — ApronPrep auto-fills 16
- $0–$0 government filing fee (poster is free)
- Timeline varies — download and post immediately
Analyzed from Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
84% from one compliance interview
Manual entry or document upload required
Why You Need a Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
The Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster is mandated under Washington State's Paid Sick Leave law, established by the Washington Industrial Welfare Act (WAC 296-128-800 through 896). While Tacoma does not have a separate city-specific sick leave ordinance, all employers in Washington, regardless of size, are required by state law to display this poster. The authority for this requirement stems from the Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I). The poster consolidates required information from several state wage-and-hour laws, including minimum wage, paid sick leave, and tip credits, into a single, state-provided notice.
Failure to conspicuously post this notice in your workplace can lead to significant practical and financial consequences. The most common penalties stem from enforcement actions by L&I and wage claims from employees. Specific consequences include:
- Civil Penalties: L&I can issue fines for each violation of posting requirements. While amounts are assessed case-by-case, they can be levied per worksite and per violation type, accumulating quickly during an audit.
- Increased Liability for Wage Claims: If an employee files a wage complaint (e.g., for unpaid sick leave), the absence of the required poster can undermine an employer's defense and be used as evidence of a lack of notification, potentially increasing the amount of back wages owed.
- Cease-and-Desist Orders: During an investigation, L&I can issue an order to immediately comply, which, if ignored, escalates to more severe penalties and potential business license implications.
- Insurance and Lease Issues: A history of labor law violations or penalties from L&I can affect your business insurance premiums and may be flagged during lease renewals or property management reviews, as it indicates operational compliance risks.
Legal code: State minimum wage law, earned sick time law, tip law, workplace poster statutes, prevailing wage law
Recent update: The mandatory poster content was updated by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries in 2026 to reflect new statewide minimum wage rates and to include clarifications on the accrual and use of paid sick leave under the revised rules.
Who Needs a Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster?
| Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant (Full-Service) | Required | Required under Washington's Paid Sick Leave law (RCW 49.46.200) for all employers, regardless of size, with no employee minimum threshold. |
| Bar / Nightclub | Required | Required; Washington's Paid Sick Leave law applies to all employers in the state, including those in the hospitality sector. |
| Food Truck | Required | Required for any mobile food operation with employees, as the law covers all employment relationships in Washington. |
| Coffee Shop / Café | Required | Required; the law has no exemption for small food service establishments, so all coffee shops with employees must comply. |
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 your restaurant's exact legal name as it is registered with the Washington Secretary of State, or as listed on your EIN/UBI certificate.
COMMON MISTAKE: Entering a 'Doing Business As' (DBA) name instead of the legal entity name on file with the state.
Has Washington Employees
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you have any employees who perform work in Washington state, including part-time, full-time, and temporary staff.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' because the business is based out-of-state, which is incorrect if you have even one employee working in Washington.
Number of Washington Employees
numberEnter the total headcount of all employees (including tipped staff) who work in Washington, used to verify your size-based compliance obligations.
COMMON MISTAKE: Including owners or independent contractors in the count, or providing a national headcount instead of the Washington-specific total.
Primary Workplace Address
addressEnter the physical street address of your main restaurant location in Tacoma where the majority of your staff report for work.
COMMON MISTAKE: Using a P.O. Box, a corporate headquarters address in another city, or an incomplete address missing the suite or unit number.
Multiple Workplace Locations
booleanSelect 'Yes' if you operate more than one restaurant, kitchen, or staffed facility within Washington state.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' for separate kitchens or prep facilities that are staffed, which are considered distinct workplace locations under the law.
Additional Workplace Locations
textIf you have multiple locations, list the complete addresses for each additional staffed workplace where the poster must be displayed.
COMMON MISTAKE: Omitting addresses for satellite kitchens, food trucks with a home base, or seasonal locations that are currently closed.
Employee Primary Languages
textList all languages spoken by your workforce (e.g., 'Spanish, Vietnamese') to determine if you need state-provided translated posters.
COMMON MISTAKE: Only listing English if a significant portion of the kitchen or service staff primarily communicate in another language.
Has Suitable Posting Location
booleanConfirm you have identified a conspicuous place where employees can easily see the poster, such as a break room or time clock area.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'Yes' without a plan, leading to non-compliance; the poster must be in a common area, not a manager's office.
Planned Posting Locations
textDescribe the specific, physical spots where you will post the notice (e.g., 'next to the dishwashing station, in the employee break room').
COMMON MISTAKE: Writing vague descriptions like 'in the back' instead of precise locations, which can delay inspection readiness.
Needs Translated Poster
booleanBased on your employee languages, select 'Yes' if any primary language is other than English to order the correct translated posters from the state.
COMMON MISTAKE: Selecting 'No' to avoid extra steps, which is a direct violation if you have non-English speaking employees and can result in fines.
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 an Outdated or Generic Poster
Posting a generic 'sick leave' poster from an office supply store or an outdated version from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) website. The required language and employee rights are updated periodically by L&I. Using an incorrect poster fails to meet the legal posting requirement, leaving you exposed to penalties. Always download the current 'Your Rights Under Washington's Paid Sick Leave Law' poster directly from the L&I website before printing.
2. Failing to Post in All Required Languages
Posting only in English when you have employees who primarily speak another language. Washington law (WAC 296-128-710) requires the poster to be provided in the language the employer normally uses to communicate with that employee. If you have Spanish-speaking staff and commonly use Spanish for work instructions, you must also post the Spanish version. This mistake is a common citation during L&I audits and can result in fines.
3. Incorrect or Inaccessible Posting Location
Placing the poster in a break room, office, or online portal that is not readily accessible to all employees at all times. The law requires posting in a conspicuous and accessible place at each worksite where employees can easily see it. If you have multiple locations, like a kitchen and a front-of-house area, you need a poster in each. Storing it digitally on a seldom-accessed HR platform does not satisfy the 'conspicuous' requirement.
Skip the Paperwork on Your Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster
ApronPrep auto-fills 16 of 19 fields from one compliance interview.
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Washington Paid Sick Leave Poster by City in Washington
| City | Fee Range | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle | ||
| Spokane | ||
| Tacoma |
Timeline: Varies
Determine Poster Sizing & Ordering
Review Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) requirements to identify the correct poster size and source. The state-mandated paid sick leave notice must be posted in a conspicuous place where employees can easily see it, typically requiring a physical, printed copy. Most businesses order a combined Washington Paid Sick Leave & Paid Family and Medical Leave poster from a commercial poster service or download a free PDF from the L&I website and print it on 11x17 paper. Confirm your printer can handle the required size and legibility before proceeding.
Obtain & Review Required Poster Content
Acquire the official poster content. The Washington State L&I provides the legally required text, which employers cannot alter. The poster must include specific information about employee rights to accrue and use paid sick leave, notice requirements, and the prohibition of retaliation. Verify you have the most current version, as the state updates language periodically. Contact L&I directly or check their online poster library to confirm you have the 2026 Tacoma-compliant version.
Print & Post in the Workplace
Print the poster on durable material and post it prominently. It must be placed in a common area frequented by all employees, such as a break room, kitchen, or near time clocks. For businesses with multiple Tacoma locations or remote workers, you must ensure each physical worksite and a digital version accessible to remote staff has the poster. L&I inspectors can check for compliance during routine visits, and failure to post can trigger penalties. Take a dated photo of the posted notice for your records.
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 RequirementsThere is no formal processing timeline. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) provides the official poster for immediate download and posting. Your primary time investment is understanding and implementing the accrual, notification, and recordkeeping rules. The timeline for City Business License/Registration can be more variable and may require a separate lead time to get fully operational.
The government filing fee is $0. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) does not charge for the official Paid Sick Leave poster. Be aware that while the poster itself is free, related requirements, like obtaining your Annual Report Filing with the Secretary of State, carry associated state fees that must be budgeted separately. Not legal advice — verify with L&I.
No. The poster itself is a standard notice. However, when you move your business, you must post it at the new location. More critically, you must update your business address with all relevant agencies, including the Washington Secretary of State for your annual report and the City of Tacoma for your business license, as required by local ordinance. Each location's compliance is independent.
You must renew the poster whenever the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) issues an updated version. There is no set annual renewal schedule; it's based on statutory changes. You are responsible for monitoring L&I announcements for updates and immediately posting the new version. This differs from permits like an Alarm System Permit/Registration which typically have annual renewal cycles and fees.
L&I does not conduct a specific 'poster inspection.' Compliance is typically verified during a broader wage and hour audit or complaint investigation. An investigator will check for proper poster placement in a conspicuous area, review your written policy for accuracy against state law, and audit employee time and pay records to verify correct sick leave accrual and usage. Penalties for non-compliance are based on these findings, not just the poster's presence.
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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