Like many dog owners, we had our vet place an identifying microchip below our new pup’s skin in case she ran away or got lost or stolen. I will admit that I never considered installing microchips in our kids, although it may have been equally useful. Apparently, the Washington state legislature is concerned about employers requiring employees to have microchips installed in their bodies for purposes of monitoring locations, performance metrics, or other undetermined uses.

The state legislature recently passed a bill that would prohibit employers from requiring microchip installation as a condition of employment. It does not appear that any employer has required or even proposed this measure, and the bill presumably intends to get ahead of the curve in terms of future technological developments. This is one of the first such measures proposed at the state or federal level.

The bill contains several exceptions for monitoring devices not installed in a body, employees who spontaneously volunteer to have a microchip placed under their skin, and devices intended for purely voluntary medical benefits. The bill now goes to the governor's desk.

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