Offering Practical Guidance to Employers
Washington has amended its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program by making several key changes.
In a significant departure from the former landscape, the amendments extend job restoration rights to employees of smaller employers than previously. Before amendment, the law did not provide for job restoration rights to employees who work for an employer…
Washington expanded the covered uses and definition of a family member under Washington’s paid sick leave law effective January 1, 2025.
Under Washington’s paid sick leave law employers must provide non-exempt employees with at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours the employee works. Leave accrual is not capped, which means…
The Washington Employment Security Department has announced the Paid Family and Medical Leave 2025 premium rates and weekly benefit maximums.
Beginning on January 1, 2025, the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Program’s total premium rate will increase to 0.92% from 0.74%. This rate is recalculated annually in October, based on contributions from premiums and…
The Washington Employment Security Department has announced the Paid Family and Medical Leave 2024 premium rates and weekly benefit maximums.
Beginning on January 1, 2024, the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Program’s total premium rate will decrease from 0.8% to 0.74%. This rate is recalculated annually in October, based on contributions from premiums and…
New laws in Seattle and Washington State allow certain gig workers greater access to traditional employee benefits.
Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Leave
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell signed into law the App-Based Worker Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance on March 29, 2023. Among other things, this law requires that app-based workers accrue at least…
The Washington State Legislature has again amended the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Act. This amendment is effective June 9, 2022. Here is a list of the most significant changes to the law:
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The Washington State Legislature has temporarily amended the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Act to create pandemic leave assistance grants for certain employees and employers. Employees and employers cannot apply for these grants until August 1, 2021. This amendment expires on June 30, 2023. Read more about these grants.
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued a new Proclamation that extends until 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2020, the job protections in place for “high-risk” Washington employees. The job protections were to expire at 11:59 p.m. on June 12, 2020, under the previous Proclamation.
High-risk employees are (1) any individual 65 years or older,…
Under Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) law, an employer normally may require verification (including a doctor’s note) for the use of PSST after three consecutive workdays in which the employee uses paid sick/safe leave. But effective immediately and through June 7, 2020, employers may not require a doctor’s note or healthcare provider…
