Business

As of January 1st, 2026, Seattle’s minimum wage will increase from $20.76 to $21.30 per hour for all employers — large or small. This raise reflects the annual inflation adjustment, based on the Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue area consumer price index.  For workers in minimum-wage roles — such as retail staff, service employees, hospitality workers, and other entry-level positions — this represents […]

Since midnight on October 1st, 2025, the U.S. federal government has been operating under a shutdown. This was due to Congress not passing the full set of appropiation bills (or a continuing resolution) to fund federal agencies for Fiscal Year 2026 by the deadline of September 30th.  What’s being affected: Economic & Broader Impacts: We understand that the cancellation,

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (WA L&I) announced on September 30th, 2025 that Washington State’s minimum wage will be increased from the current $16.66 to $17.13 (per hour) starting on January 1st, 2026. Under state law, the WA L&I is required to adjust the minimum wage each year based on the federal Consumer Price Index

On July 1st, 2025, Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries issued Notice #25‑19, which announces expanded protections under the state’s Equal Pay and Opportunities Act. The key changes include: These changes significantly widen coverage, applying “equal pay” standards to hundreds of thousands more workers in Washington, according to L&I director Joel Sacks. Why This Matters