The State of Washington has enacted legislation (House Bill 5097) that expands eligibility for the state's paid family and medical leave program. House Bill 5097 takes effect on July 25, 2021.
Background:
Washington state provides partial wage replacement for employees to take leave to, among other reasons, care for their own or a family member's serious health condition. Currently, covered family members include:
- Child
- Grandchild
- Grandparent
- Parent
- Sibling
- Spouse
To be eligible, the employee must have worked at least 820 hours in Washington over the past year. The program is funded by premiums paid by employees and employers.
House Bill 5097:
House Bill 5097 expands the definition of covered family member to include any individual who regularly resides in the employee's home and where the relationship creates an expectation that the employee care for the person, and that individual depends on the employee for care. Individuals who reside in the same home with no expectation of care are not covered.
Compliance Recommendation:
Washington employers should update their policies and procedures to ensure compliance with House Bill 5097. Please contact your dedicated service professional with any questions.