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This page provides a general overview of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the state Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program as they apply to Washington local government agencies and their employees, including examples of local policies.
It is part of MRSC’s series on Leave Laws and Policies.
Starting January 1, 2020, the Paid Family and Medical Leave program (PFML), chapter 50A RCW, allows qualified employees to be paid a portion of their wages, for up to 12 weeks in a 12-month period in most cases, if they miss work for:
The definition of “family member” in RCW 50A.05.010 includes not only a child, grandchild, grandparent, parent, sibling, or spouse of the employee, but also (effective July 25, 2021) any individual where the relationship creates an expectation that the employee care for that individual, regardless of whether or not they live in the same home as the employee.
This legislation replaced the Washington Family Leave Act, formerly codified at chapter 49.78 RCW.
Employee Eligibility
To qualify for benefits, employees must work 820 hours or more (RCW 50A.15.010), at one job or combined from multiple jobs, in the "qualifying period," defined as:
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