Hiring Freeze Q&A

1.       Does the hiring freeze apply to all state agencies and higher education institutions? 
The hiring freeze applies to all cabinet agencies.  All other agencies and public higher education institutions are strongly encouraged to participate. 

2.       What are cabinet agencies?
Cabinet agencies report directly to the governor and examples include:  Department of Agriculture, Department of Corrections, Community Trade and Economic Development, Department of Early Learning, Department of Ecology, Employment Security Department, Department of Financial Institutions, General Administration, Department of Health, Health Care Authority, Information Services, Labor & Industries, Licensing, Liquor Control Board, Military Department, Office of Financial Management, Department of Personnel, Retirement Systems, Department of Revenue, Social and Health Services, Washington State Patrol, Department of Transportation, Utilities and Transportation Commission and Veteran’s Affairs

3.       What are non-cabinet agencies?
Non-cabinet agencies report to elected officials or Boards and Commissions and examples include:  State Auditor’s Office, Attorney General’s Office, Gambling Commission, Office of the Insurance Commissioner, Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Secretary of State, Superintendent for Public Instruction, and State Treasurer’s Office 

4.       How long will the hiring freeze be in effect?
The statewide hiring freeze was effective August 4, 2008, we are uncertain of an end date.

5.       What if a recruitment is already in process at the time of the freeze?
If an agency began a recruitment process before the hiring freeze and has already scheduled interviews, the agency may choose to complete the process without requesting an exemption.  

6.       Are all the recruitments posted at careers.wa.gov still available or not?
No.  Agencies are encouraged to review all job postings, determine the criticality based on the exemption criteria and close postings that they no longer anticipate being able to fill due to the freeze.

7.       Who can I call to find out more details about a position for which I am being considered?
You need to contact the individual agency with the vacancy for specific questions about the status of their recruitment.

8.       What types of positions are affected by the hiring freeze?  
The hiring freeze applies to all positions, including permanent, non-permanent, classified (includes Washington Management Service), and exempt.

9.       Are there any positions that are automatically exempted from the hiring freeze?
Yes.  Because of the impact to the health and safety of state citizens, agencies do not need to request exemptions for positions that provide the following services:

• Direct custody, supervision, and patient care in corrections and juvenile rehabilitation programs, institutions for the care of veterans, the mentally ill, and the developmentally disabled; hospitals and the School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf
• Direct protective services to children and other vulnerable populations in the Department of Social and Health Services
• Washington State Patrol investigative services and field enforcement (troopers)
• Hazardous materials response and emergency cleanup
• Public health laboratory, emergency public health response and patient safety response
• Military operations and emergency management within the Military Department
• Fire fighting
• Enforcement officers in the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Liquor Control Board and the Department of Natural Resources.  Park Rangers at the Parks and Recreation Commission

     Exemption is also granted for activities directly involved in producing revenue:

• Tax and fee collection, auditing, and recovery
• State Lottery operations
• Liquor Control Board business enterprise operations

10.   Is there a process for an agency to request an exemption to hire for a critical activity that is not directly stated above?
Yes. If an agency needs to fill critical positions that don’t fall into one of the above categories, agency directors may request an exemption and seek approval to fill from the Director of the Department of Personnel.  Examples of other types of positions that may be filled include critical activities that meet at least one of the following three criteria:

• Welfare, health and safety of state citizens is directly affected
• Production or collection of state and/or federal revenue is directly affected
• Delivery of critical state services is directly affected

11.   Are there going to be statewide layoffs?
At this time we are unaware of any employers conducting layoffs.