The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML) program started paying benefits in January 2020. Wage replacement benefits are payable to WA workers for medical leave (ML) if they are unable to work due to non-work-related injury or illness, including pregnancy and childbirth, or for paid family leave (PFL), if they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member, to bond with a new child, and to address a military exigency.
Coverage Options: Employers can participate in the state-run program or self-insure the PFL or ML coverages with a voluntary plan. MetLife provides administrative services for employers who have state approved voluntary plans.
Job Protection: The WA PFML coverage is job protected. When applicable, a worker should request leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) concurrently.
Benefits:
- 12 weeks of paid leave to care for oneself or a family member
- 16 weeks total for both family and medical events in a year
- Up to 18 weeks combined medical and family (child bonding) for complications due to pregnancy
Contributions:
- In 2020, the contribution rate is 0.40% of an employee’s wage up to $137,700 with a maximum contribution of $550.80/year
- Paid Family can be 100% employee paid (payroll deducted) and Medical Leave can be split between the employee (payroll deducted) up to 45% and the employer contributing the rest (55%)
Key Dates:
- January 1, 2020: Benefits started
For more information please visit the WA PFML website.
As of March 1, 2020
