Wash. Rev. Code » Title 50 · Chapter 50.20
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 50.20.119 (2026)

Part-time workers

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) With respect to claims that have an effective date on or after January 2, 2005, an otherwise eligible individual may not be denied benefits for any week because the individual is a part-time worker and is available for, seeks, applies for, or accepts only work of seventeen or fewer hours per week by reason of the application of RCW 50.20.010(1)(c), 50.20.080, or 50.22.020(1) relating to availability for work and active search for work, or failure to apply for or refusal to accept suitable work.
(2) For purposes of this section, "part-time worker" means an individual who: (a) Earned wages in "employment" in at least forty weeks in the individual's base year; and (b) did not earn wages in "employment" in more than seventeen hours per week in any weeks in the individual's base year.
[ 2006 c 13 s 15. Prior: 2003 2nd sp.s. c 4 s 12.]

Notes:

Retroactive application—2006 c 13 ss 8-22: See note following RCW 50.04.293.
Conflict with federal requirements—Part headings not law—Severability—2006 c 13: See notes following RCW 50.20.120.
Conflict with federal requirements—Severability—Effective date—2003 2nd sp.s. c 4: See notes following RCW 50.01.010.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 4 cases, 2014–2018 · leading case: Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 350 P.3d 647 (Wash. 2015).
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Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 350 P.3d 647 (Wash. 2015). · cites it 19× “050(2)(a), which enumerates what circumstances constitute “good cause” for voluntarily leaving work, and RCW 50.20.119, which permits a “part-time worker” to refuse full-time employment and still receive benefits.”
Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 328 P.3d 977 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 17× “Darkenwald argues that she qualifies for unemployment benefits because she either was discharged or voluntarily left her job for good cause, or because as a part-time employee RCW 50.20.119 allowed her to reject a job requiring more than 17 hours of work per week without…”
Darkenwald v. Emp't Sec. Dep't (Wash. 2015). · cites it 19× “050(2)(a), which enumerates what circumstances constitute "good cause" for voluntarily leaving work, and RCW 50.20.119, which permits a "part-time worker" to refuse full-time employment and still receive benefits.”
Jana Wolff, V State Of Wa Dept Of Emp. Sec. (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 3× “RCW 50.20.119; WAC 192-170-070. Substantial evidence supports the finding that Wolff was not able to accept, available for, or actively seeking full-time work as required.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 50.20.119(1) — 4 cases
Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 350 P.3d 647 (Wash. 2015). “050(2)(a), which enumerates what circumstances constitute “good cause” for voluntarily leaving work, and RCW 50.20.119, which permits a “part-time worker” to refuse full-time employment and still receive benefits.”
Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 328 P.3d 977 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Darkenwald argues that she qualifies for unemployment benefits because she either was discharged or voluntarily left her job for good cause, or because as a part-time employee RCW 50.20.119 allowed her to reject a job requiring more than 17 hours of work per week without…”
Jana Wolff, V State Of Wa Dept Of Emp. Sec. (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 50.20.119; WAC 192-170-070. Substantial evidence supports the finding that Wolff was not able to accept, available for, or actively seeking full-time work as required.”
Darkenwald v. Emp't Sec. Dep't (Wash. 2015). “050(2)(a), which enumerates what circumstances constitute "good cause" for voluntarily leaving work, and RCW 50.20.119, which permits a "part-time worker" to refuse full-time employment and still receive benefits.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 50.20.119(2) — 2 cases
Darkenwald v. Emp. Sec. Dep't, 328 P.3d 977 (Wash. Ct. App. 2014). “Darkenwald argues that she qualifies for unemployment benefits because she either was discharged or voluntarily left her job for good cause, or because as a part-time employee RCW 50.20.119 allowed her to reject a job requiring more than 17 hours of work per week without…”
Jana Wolff, V State Of Wa Dept Of Emp. Sec. (Wash. Ct. App. 2018). “RCW 50.20.119; WAC 192-170-070. Substantial evidence supports the finding that Wolff was not able to accept, available for, or actively seeking full-time work as required.”
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