Paid time off.
Peace of mind.
Paid Family and Medical Leave provides paid time off when a serious health condition prevents you from working, when you need to care for a family member or a new child, or for certain military-related events. It’s here for you when you need it most, so you can focus on what matters.
How it works
Nearly every Washington worker—whether you work full time or part time in a
small to large business—is eligible for up to 12 weeks of Paid Family and Medical
Leave.
You need to work 820 hours in Washington, or about 16 hours per week,
over the course of about a year. You can get up to 16 weeks if you have family
and medical events in the same year, or up to 18 weeks in some cases. Leave
doesn’t have to be taken all at once. You can use these weeks within your
“claim year,” which starts when you apply and then runs for the next 52 weeks.
When that claim year expires you can then be eligible for leave again.
You apply for leave with the Employment Security Department and will get partial wage replacement, up to 90 percent of your typical pay, capped at $1,456 per week.
Your rights
If you meet the requirements, you have the right to take paid time off using
Paid Family and Medical Leave.
If you qualify for Paid Family and Medical Leave, your employer cannot prevent
you from taking it. Your employer also cannot require you to use other types
of leave, such as sick or vacation days, before or after taking Paid Family and
Medical Leave. The program is funded by premiums shared between workers
and many employers. The premium is 0.74% of your wage. You may pay about
71% of that total, and your employer (if they have 50 or more employees)
pays the rest. A calculator to estimate premiums is available on our website.
To file a complaint against your employer about Paid Family Medical Leave, email or call our Customer Care Team at paidleave@esd.wa.gov
or (833) 717-2273.
You may also contact the Office of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Ombuds. The Ombuds is appointed by the governor and serves as a neutral,
independent third party to help workers and employers in their dealings in the Departments. The Office of The Ombuds investigates, reports on and helps settle complaints about service deficiencies and concerns with The Paid Family and Medical Leave program. Learn more at www.paidleaveombuds.wa.gov or call the Ombuds' office at 844-395-6697.
Learn more and apply at paidleave.wa.gov
Employment Security Department
Updated 10/2023
