Title
Workers’ Affordability & Protections Process Update
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
In October 2024, this matter was forwarded to the Finance Committee for discussion. A recommendation was not made at that time. Since that time, this item has been before the City Council for discussion and direction.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive an update on the Workers’ Affordability & Protections process.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive an update on the Workers’ Affordability & Protections process.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Assistant City Manager
Background and Analysis:
In 2024, the City Council Finance Committee began a discussion on addressing minimum wage, predictive scheduling and workplace safety to help address concerns about the cost of living and job safety for lower wage earners in Olympia. In late 2024, the City Council received a significant amount of community input on an initial draft project scope and timeline. Many commenters expressed concern about the pace at which the process was moving forward and the ability for those impacted to participate in the dialogue and decision-making.
In response, the City Council directed staff to slow the process and move forward with only scoping and research in 2025. The process was then paused in early mid-2025 when a citizen-led initiative, Proposition 1, was placed on the November election ballot. Proposition 1 failed; however, the City Council directed staff to continue with research and community engagement on workers’ affordability and protections in 2026.
The purpose of this agenda item is to share and discuss with Councilmembers a reenvisioned timeline and approach for this work effort that helps to address earlier community and City Council concerns about timing and participation.
The citizen-led initiative on last year’s November voter’s ballot included specific solutions packaged into what supporters called a “Workers’ Bill of Rights.” It included specific changes such as an increase in minimum wage, requirements for predictive scheduling, and enhanced workplace safety measures. The approach proposed by staff has an initial phase for conducting research, data gathering, and doing some early stakeholder engagement to help clarify the problem and key issues that the community and Council want to consider addressing.
A study session in September will be an opportunity to review the phase one findings, clarify the issue(s) the City Council wishes for this process to address or not, and provide staff with direction for scoping the next phase of the work. Staff also hope to receive guidance on whether additional research is needed, which community stakeholders should be engaged in further dialogue, and which potential solution(s) should be explored and developed in greater detail.
In addition to helping refine the scope of this work effort through a phased approach, the timeline being shared by staff also considers the necessary capacity and resources to lead a meaningful and effective dialogue with the community on this complex and high-profile topic.
Climate Analysis:
Conducting research and stakeholder engagement on workers’ affordability & protections is not anticipated to produce any significant impacts to climate.
Equity Analysis:
Community members and Councilmembers have brought forward these topics for consideration with the intent to improve conditions and livability for employees who make the lowest wages in the region, including the current Washington state minimum wage of $17.13 per hour. According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, as of February 2026, the estimate for what a single adult with no children needs to earn working full-time in the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater region to cover living expenses is $26.12 an hour. That equates to an annual after-tax income of approximately $46,090.
Findings from the United Way on ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) households include that while ALICE households are diverse, financial hardship is felt more substantially by Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Washington, calling attention to inequities in the state and local economies.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
As demonstrated by the very significant amount of community input received by City staff and Council on this topic in 2025, workers’ affordability, and particularly the potential solutions raised at that time, including an increase to minimum wage, predictive scheduling, and workplace safety requirements are of high interest and impact to many sectors and members of the community. There is and will continue to be significant local and regional interest in this issue.
Financial Impact:
There is no predetermined estimate or funding specifically allocated to this work effort. Research and stakeholder engagement in phase one is estimated by staff to be approximately $20,000, which will need to be assumed within the City Manager’s Office professional services budget. Phase two funding and resources needs will be determined after further refinement of the research and engagement scope with the City Council.
Options:
1. Receive an update on the Workers’ Affordability & Protections process.
2. Do not receive an update on the Workers’ Affordability & Protections process.
3. Receive an update on the Workers’ Affordability & Protections process on a future agenda.
Attachments:
Workers’ Affordability & Protections Process Overview