1. (1) "Coercion" means a threat to compel or induce a person to engage in conduct which the person has a legal right to abstain from, or to abstain from conduct in which the person has a legal right to engage in. This includes, but is not limited to, threatening an employee to discourage them from exercising protected workplace rights.
2. (2) "Director" means the director of labor and industries or the director's authorized representative.

3. (3) "Employee" has the meaning provided in:

   1. (a) RCW 49.46.010 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.46.020 or 49.46.130;
   2. (b) RCW 49.12.005 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.48.010, 49.52.050, or 49.52.060; and
   3. (c) RCW 49.30.010 for purposes of agricultural labor.
   4. (d) For the purposes of this chapter, "worker" has the same meaning as "employee."
4. (4) "Employer" has the meaning provided in RCW 49.46.010 for purposes of a wage payment requirement set forth in RCW 49.46.020, 49.46.130, 49.48.010, 49.52.050, or 49.52.060, or RCW 49.30.010 for purposes of agricultural labor.
5. (5) "Threat" means any implicit or explicit communication specifically pertaining to an employee's or an employee's family member's immigration status that is made by the employer to deter an employee from engaging in protected activities or exercising a right under chapter 49.46, 49.12, 49.30, or 49.48 RCW, or any rules issued by the department of labor and industries pursuant to those chapters. This includes, but is not limited to, cases where an employee experiences a reasonable amount of fear based on an action by the employer.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 49.46 RCW. WSR 26-04-111, s 296-128-91010, filed 2/3/26, effective 3/6/26.]