Washington recently became the third state in the nation—joining New York and New Jersey—to offer unemployment benefits to workers on strike or locked out by their employers. Under the newly signed Senate Bill 5041, eligible workers will be able to access up to six weeks of unemployment benefits starting January 1, 2026. The law also addresses how unemployment benefits affect employer experience rating accounts. The law also includes a 10-year sunset clause, requiring lawmakers to revisit the program change in 2036.
Existing Law
Under existing law, eligible Washington workers may receive unemployment benefits for up to 26 weeks, following a mandatory one-week waiting period. To qualify for these unemployment insurance benefits, workers must have worked at least 680 hours during their base year and earned some wages in Washington within the past 18 months, with limited exceptions (such as recent federal or military employment). In addition, workers must: (1) have lost their job through no fault of their own (e.g., layoffs, certain voluntary quits with good cause); (2) be physically able and available to work; and (3) actively search for work each week they claim benefits, meeting specific job search activity requirements.
Prior to passage of Senate Bill 5041, however, workers were specifically disqualified from receiving benefits if the unemployment was due to a strike or lockout.
New Law: Expanded Unemployment Benefits for Striking and Locked-Out Workers
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