Beginning July 1, 2024, warehouse quota standards go into effect for workers at certain warehouses. If you’re a warehouse worker for a qualifying employer, and you have to meet a quota, then your employer:

  • Must give you written descriptions of your quota expectations.
  • Cannot discipline or fire you for failing to meet a quota your employer did not properly disclose.
  • Must ensure your quota expectations allow enough time for you to:
    • Take rest breaks.
    • Use the restroom.
    • Travel to and from breakrooms and restrooms.
    • Access and use necessary tools or safety equipment.
    • Perform an activity required by the employer to complete the work subject to a quota (for example, clocking in/out).
  • Must provide additional compensation for missed breaks in certain circumstances.
  • Cannot retaliate against you for exercising these rights as outlined in Chapter 49.84 RCW.

The warehouse quota standards apply to warehouses that:

  • Use quotas that could result in an adverse employment action taken against the employee.
  • Meet size requirements.
  • Meet North American Industry Classification System requirements.

Size Requirements

The warehouse quota standards only apply to warehouses that have more than 100 employees at a single location in Washington, or who have more than 1,000 employees at multiple locations in the state. L&I will base employer size on the number of employees on the day of an alleged violation or the average number of employees during the previous 12 months, whichever is greater.

North American Industry Classification System Requirements

Additionally, the quota standards only apply to warehouses engaged in work described by one of the following North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes:

  • 493: Warehousing and storage, except for 493130 for farm product warehousing and storage.
  • 423: Merchant wholesalers, durable goods.
  • 424: Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods.
  • 454110: Electronic shopping and mail-order house.

Even if your warehouse is not subject to quota standards, your employer must provide you with meal and rest breaks.

L&I’s Employment Standards Program and Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) are responsible for enforcing these protections.

How to file a complaint

You can file a complaint with Employment Standards if you believe a quota interferes with your breaks, if you did not receive a written quota description, or if you experience related retaliation. You can file a complaint in three ways:

You can file a safety complaint with DOSH if a quota interferes with bathroom or safety equipment access or related retaliation.

Contact L&I for more information or to file a complaint

Watch a video that explains the warehouse quota standards law.

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