However, there is no waiting period if an employee takes leave for the birth or placement of a child.įunding – employers and employees both pay into the paid leave program through payroll deductions.

Waiting period – there is a seven-day waiting period for benefits.

18 weeks of combined family and medical leave if the employee experiences a pregnancy-related serious health condition that results in incapacity.

16 weeks of combined family and medical leave.

14 weeks of family or medical leave if the employee experiences a pregnancy-related serious health condition that results in incapacity.

Leave – each year, employees may be entitled to one of the following: However, the law will apply to unionized workforces when the existing CBA expires or when it is reopened or renegotiated by the parties. An employee is eligible if he or she worked at least 820 hours during a “qualifying period.”įor now, unionized workforces with a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) are excepted from the law. The law applies to all employees working in Washington, except for those of the federal government. “Qualifying period” means the first four out of the last five completed calendar quarters or, if eligibility is not established, the last four completed quarters immediately before the employee applies for leave.

Not expected to work in Washington for at least 820 hours during a “qualifying period.”.

Employed in Washington on a limited or temporary work schedule.

Physically based outside of Washington.

Small employers (with fewer than 50 employees) need not to pay the employer portion of the premiums.Įmployers with up to 150 employees may apply for grants to offset wage costs while an employee is on leave.Įmployers can opt out of the state-run program if they have a comparable plan and pay a $250 fee to the Employment Security Department.Įmployers may request a waiver of the premium requirement for employees who are: The law applies to all private and most public employers in Washington. The program will be funded by premiums paid by both employees and many employers, will be administered by the Employment Security Department (ESD). Washington joins a handful of other states (California, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York) to have enacted a paid-family-leave law. 1, 2019, and benefits will become available to employees on Jan.

The new law creates an insurance fund that employers and employees both pay into, with a 0.4 percent payroll tax. All Washington employers must provide paid family and medical leave under a bill signed by Gov.

Washington state paid family leave