Were you discriminated against at work in Washington?
The Washington Law Against Discrimination may protect employees from workplace discrimination and retaliation. Deadlines, filing routes, and available remedies depend on what happened and which law applies.
You can request a review even if you are not sure whether the conduct legally qualifies, never reported it to HR, or still work for the employer.
Updated August 2026
- Harassment or different treatment tied to race, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, religion, national origin, or another protected trait
- Being passed over, disciplined, or fired for a protected reason
- A denied accommodation or protected leave issue
- Retaliation after reporting discrimination
Washington's Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) prohibits workplace discrimination because of race, national origin, disability, age (40+), religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity at employers with 8 or more employees. You can file with the Human Rights Commission within 6 months, or sue directly in court within 3 years, and state-law remedies are not subject to the federal Title VII cap schedule.
Employment discrimination information by city in Washington
Select your city for locally relevant filing information, agency routes, and a case review with your state already selected.
- BellevueEmployment-discrimination information
- SeattleEmployment-discrimination information
- SpokaneEmployment-discrimination information
- TacomaEmployment-discrimination information
Washington at a glance.
- Statute
- Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), RCW ch. 49.60
- Harassment covered at
- 8 or more employees for WSHRC jurisdiction (RCW 49.60.040).
More detail
Independent contractors are separately protected under RCW 49.60.030(1), and within Seattle the Office for Civil Rights enforces SMC 14.04 against employers doing business in the city. - Discrimination covered at
- 8+ employees (RCW 49.60.040(11)); religious/sectarian non-profit organizations excluded
- State agency deadline
- 6 months from the alleged act to file with WSHRC (RCW 49.60.230)
More detail
extended to 12 months for pregnancy-related, 2 years for whistleblower retaliation - Federal EEOC deadline
- 300 days (Washington is a deferral jurisdiction)
- Civil suit
- 3 years for direct WLAD suit (RCW 4.16.080(2) catch-all
More detail
Antonius v. King County), NO administrative exhaustion required (RCW 49.60.030(2) grants direct civil action; RCW 49.60.020) - Damages
- Actual damages with no federal-style statutory cap (RCW 49.60.030(2))
- State agency
- Washington State Human Rights Commission (WSHRC)
What may be available under the Washington Law Against Discrimination.
- Actual damages with no federal-style statutory cap (RCW 49.60.030(2))
- Injunctive relief
- Costs of suit + reasonable attorney's fees
- Contrast: federal Title VII caps combined compensatory + punitive at $50K-$300K by employer size
- NO administrative exhaustion, direct WLAD suit available (3-year window vs 6-month agency deadline; missing the agency window does NOT end the case)
- Independent contractors protected via RCW 49.60.030(1) + WAC 162-16-230, but must go the lawsuit route (they need a lawyer, not an agency form)
- Silenced No More Act (RCW 49.44.211, eff. June 9, 2022): voids NDA and nondisparagement provisions covering illegal discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage violations, or sexual assault; $10,000 minimum statutory damages + fees; settlement AMOUNTS may stay confidential, underlying conduct may not; retroactive EXCEPT provisions in pre-2022 legal-claim settlement agreements
- Seattle: SMC 14.04 via SOCR, broader protected classes (caste, immigration status, political ideology), 18-month deadline, no immigration-status questions
Discrimination by protected ground in Washington.
Coverage thresholds and deadlines differ by ground. Each one below is a separate claim, and an employer can violate more than one at once.
Race & national origin
Disability
Age (40+)
Religion
Sexual orientation & gender identity
Retaliation
Where to file in Washington.
Headquarters (Olympia)
711 S. Capitol Way, Suite 402Olympia, WA 98501
1-800-233-3247
WSHRC has no Seattle office. It operates from its Olympia headquarters, with offices in Spokane, Union Gap, and East Wenatchee. File online or by mail with Olympia HQ.
File with WSHRC ↗Deadlines are shorter than most people expect. Share what happened in about two minutes. The firm will review your submission and contact you about possible options and next steps. There is no cost or obligation to request a review.
Guides for Washington workplace discrimination.
- How long do I have to file a pregnancy discrimination claim? →
- How long do I have to file a disability discrimination claim? →
- How do you prove gender-based pay and promotion discrimination? →
- How long do I have to file a race discrimination claim? →
- What is a right-to-sue letter and what do I do with it? →
The same conduct can break more than one law.
What happened to you in Washington may also amount to a separate claim, with its own protections and its own deadlines. Each of these is worth checking before anything lapses.
Common questions.
Can I sue for discrimination in Washington without filing with an agency first?
Yes. Washington's WLAD lets you file a lawsuit directly in court within three years, no agency complaint required. The Human Rights Commission's six-month window is an option, not a prerequisite, and missing it does not end your case.
Are NDAs that hide discrimination enforceable in Washington?
No. Washington's Silenced No More Act (2022) voids NDA and non-disparagement provisions that cover illegal discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, with a $10,000 minimum statutory damages plus fees. Settlement amounts can stay confidential, but the underlying conduct cannot be gagged.