No-Rehire Clause in Job Settlement Valid Under Washington Law

A former Washington State University chief IT officer failed with his proposed class lawsuit challenging a no-rehire provision in an agreement he signed settling his employment claims.

The clause, which barred Saleh Elgiadi from seeking or accepting employment in the future with WSU’s Spokane branch, didn’t violate the public policy underlying the anti-retaliation provision of the state’s employment discrimination law, a divided Washington Court of Appeals said Tuesday.

An employer’s failure to hire a worker for prior protected activity under Washington’s Law Against Discrimination gives rise to a retaliation claim, the 2-1 court said. But Elgiadi wasn’t forbidden by public ...