RCW 73.16.110: Preference in private employment—Permissive.

(1) The legislature intends to establish a permissive preference in private employment for certain veterans and military spouses.

(2) In every private, nonpublic employment in this state, soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians, and uniformed service members, with a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005, and their widows or widowers, may be preferred for employment. Spouses of active duty service members and spouses of veterans with a qualifying discharge as defined in RCW 73.04.005 who have a service connected permanent and total disability may also be preferred for employment. These preferences are not considered violations of any state or local equal employment opportunity law, including but not limited to any statute or regulation adopted under chapter 49.60 RCW.

(3) "Veteran" has the same meanings as defined in RCW 41.04.005 and 41.04.007, and includes a current member of the national guard or armed forces reserves who has been deployed to serve in an armed conflict.