Employer records
Seattle Mun. Code § 14.19.050
in effect14.19.050 - Employer records
A. Each employer shall retain records documenting minimum wages and minimum compensation paid to each employee. Such records shall be retained for a period of three years from the date such hours were worked.
B. If an employer fails to retain adequate records required under subsection 14.19.050.A, there shall be a presumption, rebuttable by clear and convincing evidence, that the employer violated this Chapter 14.19 for the periods and for each employee for whom records were not retained.
C. Respondents in any case closed by the Agency shall allow the Office of City Auditor access to such records to permit the Office of City Auditor to evaluate the Agency's enforcement efforts. Before requesting records from such a respondent, the Office of City Auditor shall first consult the Agency's respondent records on file and determine if additional records are necessary. The City Auditor may apply by affidavit or declaration in the form allowed under chapter 5.50 RCW to the Hearing Examiner for the issuance of subpoenas under this subsection 14.19.050.C. The Hearing Examiner shall issue such subpoenas upon a showing that the records are required to fulfill the purpose of this subsection 14.19.050.C.
(Ord. 127303, § 13, 2025; Ord. 124960, § 53, 2015; Ord. 124490, § 6, 2014.)
Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT14HURI_CH14.19MIWAMICORAEMPEWOSE_14.19.050EMREFetched: 11/1/2026