City of Seattle passes hazard pay for grocery employees

On February 3, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan signed into law a new ordinance requiring grocery employers to provide their employees an additional $4 per hour in hazard pay due to the coronavirus pandemic. The law went into effect immediately after it was passed unanimously by the Seattle City Council several days after it was introduced. It will last the duration of the city’s COVID-19 emergency proclamation.

Covered employers

Larger grocery businesses in the city of Seattle that employ 500 or more employees worldwide must adhere to the new hazard pay requirements. “Grocery business” is defined under the ordinance as a retail store that is either:

• Over 10,000 square feet and primarily engaged in retailing groceries for off-site consumption; or
• Over 85,000 square feet with at least 30 percent or more of its sales floor area dedicated to the sale of groceries.

Franchises associated with larger franchise networks that employ 500 or more employees in the aggregate are covered under the ordinance. Smaller grocery businesses such as convenience stores, food marts, and farmers’ markets are specifically excluded from coverage.

Covered employees