Illinois, Oregon, Washington expand worker protections in June

Three West Coast states are expanding employee protections this June, with new laws addressing unpaid leave for medical emergencies, worker documentation safeguards, and workplace agreements. Illinois, Oregon, and Washington are rolling out rules that affect millions of workers and reshape how employers manage staffing and personnel policies.

Illinois Extends Leave Rights for Medical Crises

Illinois’s law, effective June 1, 2026, mandates that employers provide unpaid leave to workers whose child is admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. This protection goes beyond federal requirements under the Family and Medical Leave Act, which does not uniformly cover NICU admissions across all employers. Under the new Illinois rule, eligible employees can take necessary time off to care for or support a hospitalized newborn without losing their jobs. The law addresses a gap in workforce protections for parents facing unexpected medical emergencies with newborns, ensuring workers do not face the choice between their child’s medical needs and employment stability.

Oregon Implements Immigration and Documentation Safeguards

Starting June 5, 2026, Oregon’s new worker protection law targets how employers handle employee documentation and immigration-related updates. The legislation restricts employer practices around employee verification procedures and documentation requests, shielding workers from potential immigration-related workplace disruptions. This law reflects broader state-level efforts to protect immigrant workers and ensure that documentation requirements do not lead to discrimination or improper employment actions. Oregon joins other states in tightening rules around I-9 verification and employment authorization processes.

Washington Restricts Noncompete Agreements and Expands Protections

Washington is taking a more aggressive step by banning noncompete agreements effective June 30, 2026. Noncompete clauses restrict where workers can seek employment after leaving a job, and banning them expands employee mobility and job flexibility. In addition to the noncompete ban, Washington is also expanding safety protections and restrictions on how employers handle documentation and workplace policies. These changes align with a national trend toward reducing restrictions on worker mobility and strengthening workplace safety standards, giving employees greater freedom to pursue new opportunities without contractual barriers.

Sources

• Newsweek — cited June 1, 2026 Illinois parental leave for NICU admissions, June 5 Oregon immigration documentation law, and June 30 Washington noncompete ban
• Thompson Hine — reported Washington’s noncompete ban effective June 30, 2026
• Honigman — detailed Illinois requirement for unpaid leave to employees with hospitalized newborns effective June 1, 2026