The Department of Labor and Industries is encouraging representatives of hospitals and health care facilities to attend a learning session on hospital staffing plan implementation and compliance.
- Session one: June 18 at 10:30 a.m.
- Session two: June 27 at 1:30 p.m.
Complaint process
Hospital staffing plans consider patient activity, intensity level, nature of care required and staff experience. For health care workers, submit all complaints regarding patient coverage during shifts to your Hospital Staffing Committee – even if it’s a one-time issue.
The complaint process:
- File a complaint with your hospital’s staffing committee. The committee has 60 days to review. If the committee does not resolve the issue, then you can file a separate complaint for the next step.
- File a complaint with DOH. DOH has up to three weeks to refer a complaint involving labor rights to L&I. DOH will handle cases involving patient safety.
- L&I review. L&I has 60 days to investigate the matter. The agency will send its findings to DOH. (NOTE: Some hospital staffing complaints may also involve meal and rest break or mandatory overtime issues. A health care worker may file a complaint directly with L&I on these specific complaints).
- Hospital takes corrective action. The hospital has 45 days to correct the issue. DOH and L&I oversee the hospital response.
Learn more:
- www.Lni.wa.gov/HLS: L&I’s Healthcare Standards Program webpage.
- Subscribe to the Healthcare Labor Standards e-mail distribution list. Features updates, including opportunities to attend training webinars.
- DOH information on hospital staffing.
- L&I hospital staffing fact sheet.
- L&I hospital staffing complaint process.
- DOH complaint form.