District of Columbia Employment Laws

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, homelessness, credit information, and status as a victim of domestic violence. Applies to employers with 1+ employees — far broader than federal Title VII.

The D.C. minimum wage is $17.95/hour (January 2026), increasing to $18.40/hour effective July 1, 2026. The tipped minimum wage increases to $10.30/hour on July 1, 2026 (56% of the full minimum wage). Both are adjusted annually based on CPI.

The Universal Paid Leave Act provides up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave, 12 weeks of paid family leave, 12 weeks of paid medical leave, and 2 weeks of prenatal leave. Benefits are up to 90% of average weekly wages, capped at $1,153/week.

Employers must provide paid sick and safe leave: 1 hour per 87 hours worked (up to 3 days/year) for employers with 1-24 employees; 1 hour per 43 hours worked (up to 5 days) for 25-99 employees; 1 hour per 37 hours worked (up to 7 days) for 100+ employees.

Non-compete agreements are prohibited for employees earning less than $162,164/year (2026 threshold) and medical specialists earning less than a higher threshold. For employees above the threshold, non-competes are limited to 1 year. Violations carry penalties of $500-$1,000 per employee plus $350-$1,000 per violation.