On July 5, 2017 Washington’s new paid family and medical leave law was enacted. Employers and employees won’t be paying into the program until January 1, 2019, and leave benefits will be available starting on January 1, 2020.

The law creates a paid family and medical leave program that offers employees 12 to 18 weeks of paid time off for birth, adoption or foster placement of a child or a serious health condition of any employee or a member of an employee’s family. The program is paid for by premium payments equal to 0.4 percent of an employee’s wages.

Employers with fewer than 50 employees are exempted from the obligation of having to pay into the premium, and their employees will pay the full amount.

You can read the text of the law here:

http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2017-18/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Passed%20Legislature/5975-S.PL.pdf