Starting in 2020, Washington will be the fifth state in the nation to offer paid family and medical leave benefits. This benefit offers partially paid leave to care for employees or their loved one in times of serious illness or injury, to bond with a new child joining your home through birth, adoption or foster placement, and for certain military-connected events if they have a family member in active duty service.
As a worker in Washington, employees will experience a few changes in 2019. In their first paycheck of 2019, they might notice a new deduction. For example, if their pre-tax wages are $50,000 per year, they may pay up to about $2.42 from each paycheck. Employers contribute to this program as well.
In 2020, employees will be able to apply for leave when they experience a qualifying event and have worked 820 hours (about 16 hours a week, on average) in the year leading up to your date of leave. This is not the same as paid sick leave. They will file their claim with the Employment Security Department (ESD), and their payment will come from ESD. Typically, they may have access to up to 12 weeks of paid leave. Employees and employers can learn more at www.paidleave.wa.gov. If you have questions ask the Paid Family and Medical Leave program at paidleave@esd.wa.gov. You can also find them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @PaidLeaveWA.
Below is and insert which can be placed in Employees paystubs, delivered to employees or posted onsite.
2018 Paystub Insert for Notifying Employees of Washington Paid Family Leave
