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Washington Paid Medical Leave

Last updated 01/07/2020

Washington's paid family leave law allows residents to receive paid family and medical leave for up to 12 weeks if certain circumstances are met. The table below outlines the applicable laws with regards to your right to take time off for medical and family reasons.

Applicable Laws

Qualifying Events to Be Eligible for a Leave

  • Medical leave
  • Family leave (leave to care for a qualifying family member)
  • Military Leave

Covered Employees

  • You must have worked at least 820 hours for an employer in Washington state.
  • Federal employees, self-employed people, and employees working in companies located in tribal lands don’t automatically qualify for the leave.

Benefits Provided

  • Most workers can take up to 12 weeks of paid leave.
  • Some employees can get 16-18 weeks of paid leave (e.g., if you give birth to a child, you will qualify for up to 16 weeks)

Coming Back to Work

Your job will be waiting for you unless the following exceptions apply:

  • Your company employs less than 50 people
  • You have worked less than 1250 hours at the company before you took your leave or
  • You have worked for less than a year in the company

Note: State laws are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

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Get Legal Help to Discuss Your Options

Knowing you will get paid during your leave and that you have a job to come back to after your leave ends can be very reassuring. But in order to ensure your rights are protected you need to follow certain procedures. Not sure what steps you need to follow? Reach out to a  Washington employment law attorney.

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Next Steps

Contact a qualified employment attorney to make sure your rights are protected.

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