2020 Washington Paid Family Medical Leave Program

The Paid Family and Medical Leave program is a state-run insurance benefit passed by the Legislature in 2017.

Beginning in this year, 2020, it allows most employees to receive up to 12 weeks of paid leave for:

• Bonding after the birth or placement of a child.
• An employee’s serious health condition.
• A serious health condition of a qualifying family member.
• Certain military events.
• The Employment Security Department administers the Paid Family and Medical Leave program.

Visit paidleave.wa.gov for full details.

You may also have benefits available from your employer today under the Paid Sick Leave program administered by L&I. This program began January 1, 2018 and is available to most employees.

The Paid Family and Medical Leave program is being phased-in over the next year. Benefits will be available starting in 2020.

• Starting January 1, 2019, mandatory premium deductions of 0.4% of gross wages began.
  • Premiums are split between employer (36.67%) and employee (63.33%) for most employers.
  • Employers with fewer than 50 employees are not required to pay the employer portion of the premium, but must collect the full employee portion (63.33%) from the employee’s gross wages or opt to pay the employee portion.
• Starting January 1, 2020, employees can access their new paid leave benefits.

Benefits will provide a percentage of the employee’s gross wages – between $100-1,000 per week – while the employee is on approved leave.

To receive your benefits under the Paid Family and Medical Leave program, you must work a total of at least 820 hours for any Washington employers during the previous 12 months.

This information provided on this website is meant to provide general information and does not constitute as legal/ medical advice.