The bill seeks to improve access to the workers' compensation stay-at-work program by allowing employers to provide off-site light duty return-to-work opportunities for injured workers. This change addresses current limitations that restrict such opportunities to the employer of injury, which can disproportionately affect workers in small businesses or those who have moved out of state. The amendments will particularly benefit employers with 100 or fewer employees by enabling them to collaborate with local nonprofits to offer light duty work, thereby enhancing the likelihood of injured workers returning to work while still receiving necessary support.

Key amendments to RCW 51.32.090 include requirements for employers to provide written job descriptions in the worker's preferred language, the ability for workers to reject specific light duty jobs, and the employer's accountability for reporting and any new injuries during light duty work. The bill also introduces a framework for wage subsidies and reimbursements for employers offering light duty work and mandates the Department of Labor and Industries to develop criteria for approved return-to-work employment agencies. Additionally, the bill clarifies that if an employer continues to pay wages during a worker's temporary total disability, the worker will not receive additional benefits, and it updates the minimum monthly payment for injured workers while establishing that voluntarily retired workers are ineligible for benefits. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 51.32.090
Substitute Bill: 51.32.090
Engrossed Substitute: 51.32.090