2025 Updates to Washington’s Paid Sick Leave Law: What Employers Need to Know
Washington expanded the covered uses and definition of a family member under Washington’s paid sick leave law effective January 1, 2025. Under Washington’s paid sick leave law employers must provide non-exempt employees with at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours the employee works . Leave accrual is not capped, which means there is no limit on the amount of paid sick leave hours an employee can accrue in one year . Employers are required to allow employees to carry over 40 unused hours each year. Employees may use accrued paid sick leave for certain legally protected reasons, including: (1) the employee’s personal medical care; (2) to care for a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury, or health condition; (3) to care for a child when their school or place of care is closed by a public official for a health-related reason; (4) closure of the employee’s place of business for a health-related reason; or (5) for reasons under Washington’s Domestic Violen...