Mount Rainier National Park is known around the world as a fascinating tourist attraction. It is the highest mountain in the state of Washington and is the highest point in the Cascade mountains. It is also situated close to Seattle, which provides tourists with a nearby base for visiting the park. It has incredible views and is an active stratovolcano, giving it an allure.
It is also an active area for mountain climbers. Mountain climbers see Mount Rainier as a difficult and challenging climb, bringing those with mountain climbing experience to the area for a thrill.
Mount Rainier National Park is especially busy in July in August when the weather is warm and the flowers are blooming. Hordes of people come to see the mountain and all its splendor. With the increase in visitors comes the increase in seasonal hiring in the area. When this occurs, those who are seasonal workers have a distinct set of labor rules.
Seasonal Worker Defined
The RCW defines seasonal work as:
“For the purpose of this chapter the term ‘seasonal labor’ shall include all work performed by any person employed for a period of time greater than one month and where the wages for such work are not to be paid at any fixed interval of time, but at the termination of such employment, and where such person is hired within this state for work to be performed outside the state and the wages earned during said employment are to be paid in this state at the termination of such employment: PROVIDED, That this chapter shall not apply to wages earned by seamen or other persons where the payment of their wages is regulated by federal statutes.”
Laid Off v. Fired
One feature of seasonal employment is that when the season ends, and your job ends, you are considered laid off. If you are laid off, you may be eligible for certain labor benefits like unemployment. Therefore, if you are working at Mount Rainier or the like during the summer, you should document that you worked there at least a month to qualify as a seasonal worker so that you can be eligible for unemployment.
Disputes
Under Title 49 of Washington state labor laws, a dispute regarding wages is heard before the director of the Washington Labor and Industry, or L & I, or his or her deputy. To request a hearing, a seasonal worker must submit a written petition to the L & I that clearly and concisely describes the dispute. The L & I will set a hearing date, where the parties can present their cases. The L & I will consider the case and has the power to make various adjustments to the wages and money earned.
Are you a seasonal worker in Washington State who has a dispute with your employer? There are laws that protect your rights. Contact the labor law firm of HKM, a law firm devoted to protecting the rights of laborers in the state of Washington.
