Washington § 49.96.010 - Definitions. (Effective July 1, 2027.)

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Casual labor" means work that is irregular, uncertain, and incidental in nature and duration, and is different in nature from the type of paid work in which the worker is customarily engaged in.

(2) "Department" means the department of labor and industries.

(3) "Director" means the director of the department.

(4)(a) "Domestic worker" includes any person who:

(i) Is an hourly employee, salaried employee, or independent contractor;

(ii) Receives payment from a hiring entity for the work or services described in (a)(iii) of this subsection for four or more hours in any month; and

(iii) Works or provides services in one or more private residences as a nanny, child care provider, home care worker, personal care provider, housekeeper or cleaner, cook, gardener, or household manager.

(b) "Domestic worker" does not include:

(i) A person performing casual labor in or about a private residence, unless the work is performed in the course of the hiring entity's trade, business, or profession;

(ii) A person performing babysitting on an irregular and uncertain basis that is incidental in nature and duration;

(iii) A person performing pet sitting, dog walking, or house sitting who is not also performing the work described in (a)(iii) of this subsection;

(iv) An individual provider, as defined in RCW 74.39A.240, or any provider employed by a home care agency as defined in RCW 70.127.010 if the home care agency receives funds through chapter 74.39A RCW; or

(v) A person in a family relationship with, or who is a family member of, the hiring entity.

(5) "Family member" and "family relationship" must be liberally construed to include, but not be limited to, a parent, child, sibling, aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparent, grandchild, grandniece, or grandnephew, or such relatives when related by marriage.

(6)(a) "Hiring entity" means any person, group of persons, partnership, association, corporation, business trust, employer as defined in RCW 49.46.010, or any combination thereof, that provides payment to a domestic worker for the domestic worker's work or services.

(b) "Hiring entity" does not include state agencies or home care agencies as defined in RCW 70.127.010 if the home care agency receives funds through chapter 74.39A RCW.

Effective date—2026 c 15: "This act takes effect July 1, 2027." [ 2026 c 15 s 17.]