Washington Will Soon Prohibit Employers From Microchipping Employees

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Beginning June 11, 2026, Washington law will prohibit an employer from requesting, requiring, or coercing any employee to have a microchip implanted for any reason. The statute defines “employee” broadly enough to include job applicants, so the ban is not limited to people already on the payroll. It also defines a prohibited “microchip” as a product, device, or technology implanted beneath the skin that contains a unique identification number and personal information that can be retrieved or transmitted with an external scanning device. At the same time, the law does not reach legitimate medical implants used to diagnose, monitor, treat, or prevent a health condition. (Law Files)

The remedies are also worth noting. An aggrieved employee may bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction, and a prevailing employee may recover injunctive relief, actual damages, punitive damages, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs. In other words, an employer that tries to push invasive workplace monitoring technology may face both a court order stopping the conduct and meaningful monetary exposure. (Law Files)

If you are searching for an employment law firm, attorneys Washington employees can trust, or a Seattle attorney to evaluate whether an employer crossed the line, Seattle Litigation Group PLLC may be able to help.

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