Washington
Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program became effective January 1, 2020. Employers can participate in the state plan or provide coverage through a self-funded private plan.
Eligibility:
Employers
Any employer with one or more employees working in the state of Washington.
Federal government employees are not included. Self-employed individuals and tribal governments can opt into the program.
Employees
Under the state program, employees are eligible for PFML if they have worked at least 820 hours for a Washington employer during the qualifying period. The qualifying period is the first 4 of the last 5 completed calendar quarters.
For self-funded private plans, employees are eligible after they have worked for their employer for at least 340 hours prior to the leave start date.
Benefits overview
Medical leave
- Employee’s own serious health condition
Family leave
- Bond with a new child after birth, adoption, or foster care placement
- Care for a family member with a serious health condition
- Military exigency related to a family member’s active military duty or call to duty
Washington PFML also provides 7 calendar days of bereavement leave following the death of a child for whom the employee would have been eligible to bond with
12 weeks for medical leave
12 weeks for family leave
2 additional weeks for pregnancy complications
A combined maximum of 16-18 weeks in a benefit year
90% wage replacement for any wages up to 50% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW)
50% of SAWW + 50% wage replacement for any wages over 50% of SAWW
The maximum benefit is $1,542
The minimum benefit is $100, or the employee’s actual wages if less
There is a 7-day waiting period under Washington PFML except for medical leave after the birth of a child, bonding leave, military exigency leave, bereavement leave for the loss of a child
The 7-day waiting period only applies once per claim year
Leave can be taken continuously, intermittently, or on a reduced schedule. An employee must take at least 8 consecutive hours of leave in a week to qualify for benefits that week. Once the 8-hour requirement is satisfied, all other time taken during that week is payable.
Leave under Washington PFML is considered job protected leave if the employee worked 12 months with the employer and 1,250 hours (9 months with the employer and 965 hours for self-funded plans) in the 12 months prior to leave
Additional information:
Private Plans
Employers may opt out of the state plan in favor of a self-funded private plan. Fully insured private plans are not allowed. Private plans are effective at the start of the quarter following approval by the state.
A private plan must:
- Provide equal to or better benefits than those under the state plan
- Be self-funded
There is a $250 application fee for private plan coverage.
Covered Family Members
Under Washington PFML, employees may take family leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. Covered relationships include:
- Spouse or domestic partner
- Child (biological, adopted, or foster) or child’s spouse
- Parent and spouse’s parent
- Sibling
- Grandparent
- Grandchild
- Any individual with an expectation of care from the employee
To learn more about Washington’s paid leave program, visit the Paid Family and Medical Leave website.