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Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle

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The Washington Retail Association has expanded its outreach.

With a new emphasis on Seattle politics and the debates and decisions of the City Council, the laws and regulations approved at City Hall affect hundreds of retailers across the city.

Seattle ideas often migrate to other cities including our home base in Olympia, where the State Legislature debates financial impacts that cover the entire state. The ideas cover everything from wages, to scheduling, hiring and offering an expanding list of employee benefits.

Starting in 2017, Washington Retail Association began watching the new ideas affecting retailers that come from City Hall and has tracked developments to share with the membership. We also invite you to contact our Seattle lobbyist, John Engber, Director of the Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle, at 206-850-5517 or john.engber@retailassociation.org.

We know you’re busy with little time to follow the City Council, so, consider yourselves represented at City Hall. When we can, we will advocate on your behalf.

Top Issues in Seattle

Washington Retail has formed a Seattle business coalition to help City Council members understand the costs of a series of workplace regulations and requirements. Seattle small businesses now have a clear voice in City Council debates and decisions.

Restrictive Scheduling

On Sept. 19, 2016, the Seattle City Council approved a restrictive scheduling ordinance applying to some retailers and restaurants by a 9 to 0 vote. The ordinance requires employers to post work schedules two weeks in advance and levies fines for violations. The Washington Retail Association opposed the ordinance and warned that it would harm employees by reducing available work hours and leaving workers with more restrictive schedules that would be harder to adjust for emergencies or other conflicts outside of work. The law will apply to large retailers with 500 or more employees and to full-service restaurants with both 500 or more employees and 40 or more locations nationwide. It does not cover smaller companies or other industries.

Head Tax

The Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle joined other business groups to fight the City Council’s proposed Head Tax in 2018. After passing the tax by a 9-0 vote, the Council saw an enormous public backlash, including a signature-gathering campaign to put a repeal initiative on the ballot. After over 42,000 Seattle residents signed the repeal petitions, the Council reversed course, voting 7-2 to repeal the Head Tax. RICS will continue to advocate for city government to prioritize needs and spend effectively to address those needs.

Paid Sick Leave

WR opposes government-imposed leave mandates that rob businesses of their flexibility to address specific circumstances among employees. Such mandates threaten productivity and impose burdensome costs that hit small businesses especially hard and create a great disadvantage for them. Last year, the Washington Research Council published a brief warning that imposing paid sick leave threatens many businesses by making them less competitive with others not facing the same regulation.

WR is a non-profit trade group that provides political strength to bring about change. Partner with an assocation that understands not only your industry, but your unique individual business requirements in Washington State.

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The Group Retrospective Rating Program (RETRO) is a safety incentive program. The program was developed to encourage safety in the workplace and drive down the costs of doing business in Washington State.

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