Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program provides eligible workers with paid time off for family and medical needs. It's one of the most comprehensive programs in the nation.
Eligibility: You must have worked at least 820 hours in the qualifying period (approximately the last year) in Washington State. This can be across multiple employers.
Benefits:
Medical leave: Up to 12 weeks for your own serious health condition.
Family leave: Up to 12 weeks for bonding with a new child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, or certain military-connected events.
Combined maximum: Up to 16 weeks in a year if you need both medical and family leave. An additional 2 weeks may be available for pregnancy complications.
Payment: The benefit is based on your average weekly wage, up to a weekly maximum (adjusted annually). Lower-wage workers receive a higher percentage of their income (up to 90%).
Funding: The program is funded through premiums shared between employers and employees. The premium rate is set annually, with employees paying about 72.76% and employers paying 27.24%.
Job protection: If your employer has 50 or more employees, your job is protected while you're on leave, similar to FMLA.