KGMI News
YAKIMA, Wash. – Starting January 1st, the state’s minimum wage increases to $11.50 an hour and employers must provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours an employee works.
This also applies to seasonal workers at farms. Mike Gempler, Executive Director of the Washington Grower’s League, says it’s not the wage increase or the paid sick leave that will be a challenge to farmers, but the increase in record keeping.
Agricultural employers will have to track hours to determine eligibility for sick leave, track sick leave earned, sick leave taken and the carryover into each year.
Gempler says this is quite difficult with seasonal employees.