Washington's new immigrant-worker protection requirements took effect October 1 under enacted House Bill 2105. Within five business days of receiving a federal notice of an I-9 and related-records inspection, an employer must notify workers and authorized representatives in writing.
The law requires posting and direct transmission through the usual communication method, with specified information and languages. After written results arrive, affected workers must receive their results and information about deficiencies, correction periods and a meeting, again within five business days.
The results notice must concern the affected worker, not expose coworkers' personal information. Employers cannot impose verification requirements beyond federal law, and retaliation for exercising the chapter's rights is barred. Protected employment interests include wages and schedules.
These are notice and employment protections, not immunity from federal requirements or a guarantee of continued work after inspection. Keep notice dates and correction instructions and ask about representation. Draft bill reports used different deadlines; the enacted requirement is five business days. Timely notice can matter to the next paycheck without changing federal work-authorization requirements.