Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 50.04.310 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026

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(1) An individual:

(a) Is "unemployed" in any week during which the individual performs no services and with respect to which no remuneration is payable to the individual, or in any week of less than full time work, if the remuneration payable to the individual with respect to such week is less than one and one-third times the individual's weekly benefit amount plus five dollars. The commissioner shall prescribe regulations applicable to unemployed individuals making such distinctions in the procedures as to such types of unemployment as the commissioner deems necessary.

(b) Is not "unemployed" in any week which falls totally within a period during which the individual, pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement or individual employment contract, is employed full time in accordance with a definition of full time contained in the agreement or contract, and for which compensation for full time work is payable. This subsection may not be applied retroactively to an individual who had no guarantee of work at the start of such period and subsequently is provided additional work by the employer.

(2)(a) An officer of a corporation who owns ten percent or more of the outstanding stock of the corporation, or a corporate officer who is a family member of an officer who owns ten percent or more of the outstanding stock of the corporation, whose claim for benefits is based on any wages with that corporation:

(i) Is not "unemployed" in any week during the individual's term of office or ownership in the corporation, even if wages are not being paid, unless the corporate officer's covered base year wages with that corporation are less than twenty-five percent of his or her total covered base year wages.

(ii) Is "unemployed" in any week upon dissolution of the corporation or if the officer permanently resigns or is permanently removed from their appointment and responsibilities with that corporation in accordance with its articles of incorporation or bylaws or if the corporate officer's covered base year wages with that corporation are less than twenty-five percent of his or her total covered base year wages.

(b) As used in this subsection (2), "family member" means persons who are members of a family by blood or marriage as parents, stepparents, grandparents, spouses, children, brothers, sisters, stepchildren, adopted children, or grandchildren.

(3) Subsection (2)(a) of this section does not apply to officers of an employee cooperative corporation organized under chapter 23.78 RCW, a cooperative association organized under chapter 23.86 RCW, or a limited cooperative association organized under chapter 23.100 RCW. For purposes of subsection (1)(a) of this section, an officer of an employee cooperative corporation organized under chapter 23.78 RCW, a cooperative association organized under chapter 23.86 RCW, or a limited cooperative association organized under chapter 23.100 RCW will not be considered to be performing services by acting only as an officer for the entity.

[ 2023 c 92 s 1; 2013 c 66 s 1; 2007 c 146 s 5; 1984 c 134 s 1; 1973 2nd ex.s. c 7 s 1; 1945 c 35 s 32; Rem. Supp. 1945 s 9998-170. Prior: 1943 c 127 s 13; 1941 c 253 s 14; 1939 c 214 s 16; 1939 c 162 s 19.]

Notes:

Conflict with federal requirements—2023 c 92: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 2023 c 92 s 2.]

Effective date—2023 c 92: "This act takes effect January 1, 2024." [ 2023 c 92 s 3.]

Effective date—2013 c 66: "This act takes effect December 29, 2013." [ 2013 c 66 s 4.]

Conflict with federal requirements—2013 c 66: "If any part of this act is found to be in conflict with federal requirements that are a prescribed condition to the allocation of federal funds to the state or the eligibility of employers in this state for federal unemployment tax credits, the conflicting part of this act is inoperative solely to the extent of the conflict, and the finding or determination does not affect the operation of the remainder of this act. Rules adopted under this act must meet federal requirements that are a necessary condition to the receipt of federal funds by the state or the granting of federal unemployment tax credits to employers in this state." [ 2013 c 66 s 2.]

Effective date—2007 c 146 ss 5, 6, and 10-12: "Sections 5, 6, and 10 through 12 of this act take effect January 1, 2008." [ 2007 c 146 s 25.]

Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—2007 c 146: See notes following RCW 50.04.080.

Application—1973 2nd ex.s. c 7: "This act shall apply to weeks of unemployment commencing on or after January 6, 1974." [ 1973 2nd ex.s. c 7 s 4.]

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases, 1962–2011 · leading case: Kenna v. Dep't of Emp. Sec., 545 P.2d 1248 (Wash. Ct. App. 1976).

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Kenna v. Dep't of Emp. Sec., 545 P.2d 1248 (Wash. Ct. App. 1976). · cites it 4× “1 These are contained in RCW 50.04.310 2 and RCW 50.20.010 3 These *902 two statutes have been changed since this case arose, but since the changes are not material to this dispute, these two statutes are set out in the margin in their present form to avoid unnecessary confusion.”

Safeco Ins. v. Meyering, 687 P.2d 195 (Wash. 1984). “Under these facts, the employer's action in paying Meyering for her notice period without requiring her to actually work did not change the nature of the job separation from a voluntary quit to a discharge. Meyering voluntarily quit her job effective the last day of her notice…”

Caughey v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 503 P.2d 460 (Wash. 1972). “This was held to make them ineligible for unemployment benefits under RCW 50.04.310 and RCW 50.20.010. RCW 50.04.”

Bartel v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 375 P.2d 154 (Wash. 1962). · cites it 2× “This is an appeal from a judgment in which the trial court, reversing a decision of the Commissioner of the Employment Security Department, held respondent to be “unemployed” within the meaning of RCW 50.04.310. Respondent and his wife own and operate a small dairy farm in the…”

Arima v. Dep't of Emp. Sec., 628 P.2d 500 (Wash. Ct. App. 1981). “Arima directs our attention to RCW 50.04.310, which provides: An individual shall be deemed to be "unemployed" in any week during which he performs no services and with respect to which no remuneration is payable to him, or in any week of less than full time work, if the…”

Donais v. Dep't of Emp. Sec., 750 P.2d 661 (Wash. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “010 and RCW 50.04.310 during the time his vacation pay had been assigned.”

Turnbow v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 255 P.3d 866 (Wash. Ct. App. 2011). “RCW 50.04.310(1). ¶10 An unemployed person who starts her own business remains eligible for unemployment benefits “as long as the establishment of the new business remains contingent” and she is available for work.”

— Wash. Rev. Code § 50.04.310(1) — 1 case

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