The Washington State Supreme Court issued a disappointing ruling effectively striking down our state’s exemption from paying dairy farmworkers time-and-a-half for overtime.

While we believe the court erred in its opinion, this case involves a state constitutional question, and there is no venue to appeal it beyond the state Supreme Court.

The lengthy ruling can be found here. 

Our advice is for dairy farmers to begin paying workers time-and-a-half for overtime immediately. This legal memo from Stephanie Berntsen at Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt answers many questions about how the court’s opinion should be applied. Please review this document and implement these suggestions. 

More details of the case and opinion are given in this article from the Capital Press.