Watson v. Department of Labor and Industries

**Watson v. Department of Labor and Industries: Worker Wins Fight Over Wage Calculations** This case involved a dispute over how a worker's wages should be calculated for workers' compensation benefits. Watson worked for Port Ludlow Associates in what appeared to be seasonal work, but he argued he was actually a full-time, year-round employee who just happened to work in a seasonal industry. The Department of Labor and Industries had been calculating Watson's monthly wages using rules for seasonal and intermittent workers, which typically results in lower benefit calculations. Watson challenged this, arguing his wages should be calculated under the standard full-time worker provisions instead. The Court of Appeals sided with Watson. The court found there was substantial evidence that Watson intended to work full-time throughout the year, even though his actual work followed a seasonal pattern. The court ordered the Department to recalculate Watson's wages using the correct legal provision for full-time workers. This ruling matters for workers because it shows that your work intentions and employment arrangement can override how your job might appear on the surface. If you consider yourself a full-time, year-round employee, you may be entitled to have your workers' compensation benefits calculated accordingly, even if your work follows seasonal patterns.