Employer coverage
Seattle Mun. Code § 14.22.020
in effect14.22.020 - Employer coverage
A. For the purposes of this Chapter 14.22, covered employers are limited to:
1. Retail establishments that employ 500 or more employees worldwide regardless of where those employees are employed, including but not limited to chains, integrated enterprises, or franchises associated with a franchisor or network of franchises that employ 500 or more employees in aggregate.
2. Food services establishments that employ 500 or more employees worldwide regardless of where those employees are employed, including but not limited to chains, integrated enterprises, or franchises associated with a franchisor or network of franchises that employ 500 or more employees in aggregate. In addition to employing 500 or more employees worldwide, "full service restaurants" also must have 40 or more full service restaurant locations worldwide, including but not limited to locations that are a part of a chain, integrated enterprise, or franchise where the franchisor owns or operates 40 or more such establishments in aggregate.
B. To determine the number of employees for the current calendar year, the calculation shall be based upon The average number per calendar week of employees who worked for compensation during the preceding calendar year for any and all weeks during which at least one employee worked for compensation.
1. For employers that did not have any employees during the previous calendar year, the number of employee[s] will be calculated based upon the average number per calendar week of employees who worked for compensation during the first 90 calendar days of the current year in which the employer engaged in business.
2. All employees who worked for compensation shall be counted, including but not limited to:
a. Employees who are not covered by this Chapter 14.22;
b. Employees who worked inside the City;
c. Employees who worked outside the City; and
d. Employees who worked in full-time employment, part-time employment, joint employment, temporary employment, or through the services of a temporary services or staffing agency or similar entity.
C. Separate entities that form an integrated enterprise shall be considered a single employer under this Chapter 14.22. Separate entities will be considered an integrated enterprise and a single employer under this Chapter 14.22 where a separate entity controls the operation of another entity. The factors to consider include, but are not limited to:
1. Degree of interrelation between the operations of multiple entities;
2. Degree to which the entities share common management;
3. Centralized control of labor relations; and
4. Degree of common ownership or financial control over the entities.
(Ord. 125499, § 13, 2017; Ord. 125135, § 1, 2016)
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_CH14.22SESC_14.22.020EMCOFetched: 11/1/2026