With an increase in legislation being pushed at the local level, the hospitality industry faces many challenges. The Washington Hospitality Association’s Government Affairs team is focused on building relationships at the local level so that the hospitality industry is involved in crafting legislation that has the best outcome for employees and businesses.

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Tacoma/Pierce County Mask Campaign

Your favorite Pierce County bars and restaurants want you to mask up to stay safe—and to keep their doors open. Several popular bars and restaurants teamed with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and the Washington Hospitality Association for a four-week mask campaign launching Dec. 24. It will promote safety during the COVID-19 pandemic—especially among younger adults—through a series of ads on TV, the web and social media.

Well-known restaurateurs and staff encourage residents to mask up, stay safe and help local bars and restaurants return to work. The ads were filmed at Farrelli’s Pizza at Point Ruston in Tacoma and feature:

  • Russel Brunton, owner of Indochine Asian Dining Lounge,
  • Desiree Davis, a server at Shakabrah.
  • Gloria Martin, owner of Southern Kitchen.
  • Courtney Moore, co-owner of The Mix.
  • Marquise Smith, a server at Farrelli’s Pizza.
  • Erica Stern, a human resources manager at the Matador.

Like their peers, these leaders in the local hospitality community and their restaurants are suffering. They hope the campaign will inspire residents to wear a mask and stay safe. As Russel Brunton of Indochine Asian Dining Lounge says in the commercial, “You miss your favorite bars and restaurants, and we miss our customers and our employees—who may be out of work if we don’t ALL wear masks and protect one another.”

Commercials:  Three 30 second spots:

https://youtu.be/JHf12cjWUDQ

https://youtu.be/RPIHGPNbmS8

https://youtu.be/FsBU3UUVYKw


Paid Sick and Safe Leave

Statewide paid sick leave, implemented Jan. 1, 2018, by Initiative 1433, influenced changes to Tacoma’s paid sick and safe leave law, however the city retained its more stringent policy. Businesses in Tacoma must comply with the city’s policy which matches the state’s, except for a few key differences:

  • Overtime-exempt employees also accrue paid sick and safe leave
  • In addition to reasons for use allowed by the state law, accrued leave may be used for bereavement or if the child of an employee’s school or place of care is closed by a public official
  • The policy allows for use of other paid leave time for paid sick leave if it applies to all hours; a written policy is required

For a comparison chart of Tacoma’s previous policy, current policy and the state’s current policy, click here.

For information about the state’s paid sick and safe leave policy including an FAQ, click here.

Minimum Wage:

Plastic Bag Ban

 

Contacts:

DIRECTOR OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS: John Lane –