WASHINGTON'S PAID FAMILY & MEDICAL LEAVE BEGINS JANUARY 1, 2019

Washington State's Paid Family and Medical Leave program starts January 1, 2019 with premium collection. Benefits cannot be used until January 1, 2020. Here are some quick facts you need to know:

• This is a mandatory insurance program
• Washington employees can receive up to 12 weeks per year of paid leave for: serious illnesses or injuries, bonding with a new child, caring for an aging parent, or caring for an ill or injured family member
• There is the possibility of 16 weeks for certain situations that are covered under both family leave and medical leave in the same period
• All employers must either withhold employee premiums or pay the premiums themselves
• This applies to employers of all sizes
• The premium for 2019 is 0.4% of an employee's gross wages, that's $16 per month for an employee grossing $4000 per month.
• Employers can pay the full premium expense or employers can split it with employees
• Employers will have additional reporting required for the program to be reported quarterly to the Employment Security Department
• First premium payments are due no later than April 30, 2019
• Businesses with less than 50 employees can receive grants and may not have to pay insurance premiums (employees will pay them)
• Sole proprietors, independent contractors, and self-employed Washingtonians are exempt, but can opt in for coverage

As usual, be sure to contact an employment attorney if you have questions about how this applies to you and your business, your job, or your employees.