The next time you visit a restaurant, you might see an extra placard from the health department. Health placards often indicate the business’s food safety rating, but the second sign will have a different message, one that’s related to labor violations.
Last year, the King County Board of Health approved a new rule allowing additional safety inspections and adding a second sign at establishments with unresolved labor violations such as withholding pay, forced overtime, or limiting use of paid sick leave. The reasoning is, a business with unpaid fines could also have unsafe food practices.
This month, officials are making final preparations to begin enforcement…