Governor Provides New Details on “Essential” Jobs, Retirees Coming Back to Work

Governor Jay Inslee is offering people who have retired from certain essential jobs an opportunity to come back and assist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He signed a proclamation Tuesday that waives the post-retirement statutory work limitations for PERS, LEOFF, and PSERS to allow experienced employees to return to work for essential jobs, including in medical, public health, law enforcement and other critical positions.

Inslee also added automotive repair as an essential job, and that auto sales are permitted in certain circumstances.

Here's the Governor's Proclamation:

UPDATES AS OF MARCH 31, 2020

AUTOMOTIVE REPAIRS

Automotive repair facilities are deemed essential. Only the minimum number of workers required to support or provide a service may be in an enclosed space at the same time, and all activities must comply with the social distancing and sanitation measures established in Proclamation 20-25.

AUTOMOTIVE SALES

Limited sales and leasing activities at licensed new and used car and truck dealerships are deemed essential only if those activities:

• close a pending transaction that began before Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-25 was issued; or
• replace a totaled vehicle, replace a damaged vehicle that is impractical to repair, extend a lease that expires, or provide transportation to essential workers, as identified in the “Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers” list, Appendix to Proclamation 20-25, if the essential worker has no other means of transportation.

Any activity meeting the above criteria must still comply with the following:

• on-site visits to the dealership are by appointment only and must be scheduled remotely;
• only 1 dealership employee may be present in the dealership building (showroom or office) at any one time, and that employee may only be present during the duration of the sale;
• as part of the sales transaction, the buyer must certify that the purchase is essential for one of the reasons provided above; and
• all activities must be conducted in a manner that complies with social distancing and sanitation measures established in Proclamation 20-25.

ENERGY RENEWABLE ENERGIES
Renewable energy generation, natural gas generation and biofuel refining are deemed essential.

Workers supporting IT-OT technology for energy management systems supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, and cybersecurity engineers and cybersecurity risk management, emergency management, and business continuity are deemed essential.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

GEODUCK FISHERIES
Workers supporting commercial geoduck facilities are deemed essential.

COMMERCIAL FISHING
Workers supporting commercial fishing are deemed essential.

HEALTHCARE / PUBLIC HEALTH

CLINICAL TRIALS AND BIOTECH THERAPIES
Workers and facilities supporting essential research, development, operations and clinical trials, including biotech therapies are deemed essential.

IN-HOME CARE

NANNIES
Nannies and other persons who are providing childcare in the child’s own home are essential workers if they are caring for the children of essential workers.

MAINTENANCE

OUTDOOR MAINTENANCE
Outdoor maintenance, including vegetation, is deemed essential only when necessary to prevent spoliation, avoid imminent damage, or address emergency repairs.

RECREATION

PRIVATE CAMPGROUNDS
Camping and workers supporting private campgrounds are deemed essential. Please be mindful that private campgrounds will remain open to ensure that long-term residents are not displaced.
To the greatest extent possible, avoid using this bulletin to justify vacationing in an unsafe manner.

GOLF
Golf is not deemed essential.

RECREATIONAL FISHING
Neither recreational fishing nor recreational shellfish harvesting are deemed essential.

REAL ESTATE

MOVING COMPANIES
Commercial and household goods moving companies are deemed essential, but only when needed to ensure that people remain in housing, that contracts are fulfilled, or that vulnerable individuals are removed from danger.
All moving work must be conducted with the fewest employees possible and follow the social distancing and sanitation measures set forth in Proclamation 20-25.

RETAIL

GENERALLY
Retail which is, in part, deemed essential shall, in total, be deemed essential. This does not apply to non-essential retail that is easily separable from the essential retail area. Easily separable means separate locations or buildings, separate staff, etc., such that the closure of the nonessential retail portion will not affect the essential portion.

TOBACCO SELLERS
Tobacco and vapor sellers are deemed essential if they sell food.