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Bill

HB 2052

Allowing agricultural employees to voluntarily waive overtime requirements for up to 15 workweeks in a calendar year.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Stephanie Barnard and 4 co-sponsors

Washington bill permits agricultural employees to voluntarily waive overtime pay protections for up to 15 workweeks annually, affecting seasonal worker compensation and labor rights.

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2052

Legislative bill overview

HB 2052 permits agricultural employees in Washington to voluntarily waive overtime pay requirements for up to 15 workweeks per calendar year. The bill carves out an exception to standard overtime protections, allowing workers and employers to mutually agree to bypass overtime compensation during specified periods, likely tied to seasonal harvest cycles.

Why is this important

Agricultural work is heavily seasonal, with labor-intensive harvest periods followed by slower months. Proponents argue this flexibility allows workers to maximize earnings during peak seasons without triggering mandatory overtime pay, while enabling farms to manage costs during critical production windows. However, this directly affects worker protections and compensation structure—key concerns in an industry with historical labor exploitation issues.

Potential points of contention

  • Power imbalance in "voluntary" agreements: Workers may face implicit pressure to waive protections to secure employment or hours, particularly in agricultural sectors with tight-knit labor markets and wage disparities
  • Impact on worker compensation: 15 weeks without overtime eligibility could significantly reduce annual earnings, especially for workers relying on overtime pay to meet basic living standards
  • Enforcement and documentation concerns: Verifying truly voluntary waivers and preventing coercion or misuse may be difficult; disputes over whether consent was genuine could arise
  • Conflict with state labor standards: Washington has strong worker protection laws; this represents a rollback of overtime rights that advocates may argue undermines hard-won labor standards

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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