OLYMPIA – The Washington State House of Representatives has unanimously passed House Bill 1879, a measure designed to provide hospital workers with greater flexibility in taking meal and rest breaks. Sponsored by Rep. Brianna Thomas (D-West Seattle), the bill allows hospitals and employees to voluntarily waive certain break timing requirements if both parties mutually agree.
Current regulations require meal breaks to occur between the first two to five hours of an eight-hour shift, even though many hospital workers have shifts that extend far beyond eight hours. HB 1879 seeks to accommodate those longer shifts by allowing workers to adjust break schedules in a way that better aligns with their needs while maintaining workplace protections.
“I am honored to elevate the voices and needs of our hospital workers—the people we rely on to take care of us during our most vulnerable moments and in our times of need,” said Rep. Thomas. “This bill allows workers to take breaks that make sense for their schedules, helping them balance taking care of themselves while taking care of us.”
Under HB 1879, hospital workers can voluntarily agree to waive meal periods for shifts shorter than eight hours, and for longer shifts, they may waive the second or third meal period as long as at least one meal break is provided. Additionally, the timing of breaks can be adjusted, provided that meal periods occur no earlier than the third hour of a shift and no later than the second-to-last hour.
To ensure accountability, any waiver must be agreed upon in advance and documented in writing or electronic recordkeeping format. Employers must maintain these records and make them available upon request. Employees also retain the right to revoke the waiver at any time, ensuring that participation remains truly voluntary.
The legislation builds upon previous efforts to address healthcare workforce shortages, retention challenges, and enforceable break policies for hospital staff. It also requires hospitals to report the total number of waived meal breaks in their quarterly reports to the Department of Labor and Industries.
This is the first bill Rep. Thomas has passed off the House floor, marking a significant milestone in her legislative career. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration.
