On June 23, Governor Jay Inslee announced that facial coverings will be mandatory statewide.  Starting Friday, June 26, anyone in a public space must wear face coverings.  The mandate includes indoor public spaces and outdoor public areas where physical distancing of six feet is not possible.  Individuals may remove face coverings while eating or drinking at a restaurant.

Individuals with certain medical conditions and children under the age of two are exempt from wearing facial coverings in public.  Children between the ages of two and four are encouraged but not required to wear a facial covering in public.

This mandate comes on the heels of the June 20 announcement requiring facial coverings in Yakima County.  In addition to the requirement that individuals in Yakima County wear face coverings in public, businesses in Yakima County must require customers to wear masks and may not serve anyone who enters the business without a face covering.

Employers should remember that almost all workers are still required to wear cloth face coverings under the Safe Start Proclamation as discussed in a previous post.

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Photo of Karin Jones Karin Jones

Karin Jones provides practical advice to employers regarding a wide variety of workplace and personnel issues and helps employers minimize the risk and impact of workplace problems.  When litigation arises, she represents employers before administrative agencies and the state and federal courts.  Karin…

Karin Jones provides practical advice to employers regarding a wide variety of workplace and personnel issues and helps employers minimize the risk and impact of workplace problems.  When litigation arises, she represents employers before administrative agencies and the state and federal courts.  Karin has experience representing employers in disputes involving discrimination, harassment, reasonable accommodation, employee family and medical leave, wage and hour claims, workplace safety (WISHA/OSHA), and whistleblower complaints, among other workplace issues.

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Photo of Jim Shore Jim Shore

Jim Shore helps employers and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries address their business needs and toughest labor and employment law challenges. His practice includes employment litigation and trial work; labor-management relations; advice and litigation assistance involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants, data theft…

Jim Shore helps employers and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries address their business needs and toughest labor and employment law challenges. His practice includes employment litigation and trial work; labor-management relations; advice and litigation assistance involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants, data theft and other areas where employment and intellectual property issues intersect; business transactions and reorganizations; and daily human resources and labor advice. Jim also manages sensitive internal investigations for clients. Jim is inducted as a Fellow in the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers for his sustained outstanding performance in the profession.

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