Dear High Woodlands Community,
The High Woodlands Homeowners’ Association Board would like to provide our community with an update regarding an ongoing review by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) concerning youth employment practices at the High Woodlands Pool during the 2026 season.
Earlier this summer, L&I notified the Association that it had received concerns regarding the employment of minors at the pool. The areas under review include compliance with youth work-hour limitations, required employment documentation and authorizations, meal and rest-period practices, and whether duties assigned to minor employees complied with Washington youth-employment requirements.
The Association is cooperating fully with L&I and has provided employment records and other documentation requested as part of the investigation.
What We Have Learned
As part of our own review, the Board has identified areas where our administrative processes need to be strengthened, particularly around documentation, employment authorizations, scheduling controls, and oversight of minor employees.
We do not want to assign blame to any individual. The pool is a seasonal community operation supported by staff, volunteers, and a volunteer Board, and some of the issues identified appear to involve misunderstandings or weaknesses in our administrative processes rather than intentional disregard of employment requirements.
Regardless of how those issues occurred, the Board recognizes that the Association is ultimately responsible for ensuring that its employment practices comply with applicable requirements. We take that responsibility seriously.
Actions Already Underway
The Board has begun implementing corrective and preventive measures, including:
- Direct Board oversight of youth-employment compliance and the L&I response.
- Verification of the Association’s Minor Work Permit and related requirements.
- A formal pre-employment checklist for every minor employee, including age verification, required parent/school or summer authorizations, permitted duties, schedules, and work-hour restrictions.
- Review of 2026 timekeeping and scheduling records.
- Clear restrictions preventing minors from performing prohibited or potentially hazardous duties, including handling pool-treatment chemicals or performing work in restricted equipment or chemical areas.
- Reinforcement of meal and rest-period procedures.
- A formal compliance review before each future pool season, with a designated person responsible for verifying that employment requirements have been completed before any minor begins work.
These improvements are intended not simply to address the current review, but to establish stronger and more consistent procedures for future seasons.
What Happens Next
The L&I investigation remains ongoing. The Department will review the information and records provided by the Association before determining whether any violations occurred and, if so, whether corrective measures, citations, or financial penalties are appropriate.
No final determination or fine has been issued at this time. We understand that the investigation and review process may take several months, so we may not know the final outcome until later this year or beyond.
Because the investigation remains active, there may also be limits on the level of detail the Board can appropriately provide while L&I completes its work.
Our Commitment to the Community
High Woodlands is a nonprofit, community-focused homeowners association, and our pool and swim programs have long been an important part of neighborhood life. Our governing documents describe the Association as a nonprofit organization serving the recreation, health, safety, and welfare of residents, with the swimming pool forming a significant part of those community facilities.
Many young people have worked at our pool over the years, gaining valuable experience while helping provide a safe and welcoming environment for High Woodlands families. Protecting those employees and making sure our employment practices meet all applicable requirements is extremely important to us.
The Board views this review as an opportunity to identify weaknesses, correct them, and improve how the Association operates.
We will keep the community informed when there are meaningful developments or when L&I completes its investigation. In the meantime, we appreciate the community’s patience and support while we work through this process responsibly and cooperatively.
Sincerely,
Doron Katz
President
High Woodlands Homeowners’ Association Board of Trustees