Washington Sick Leave Law Update
The state’s paid sick leave law, which applies to employers of all sizes, will be updated to cover an additional reason for leave and an expanded list of family members effective January 1, 2025. Employees can now use paid sick leave when their workplace or their child’s school or place of care is closed due to any declared emergency, not just for health-related closures.
Additionally, the law’s definition of family member will be expanded to include an employee’s child’s spouse and an individual who resides in the employee’s home or depends on them for care.
Action Items:
Update your leave policy to reflect the new leave reason
If your policy includes a definition of “family member”, update it
Ensure those administering paid sick leave are informed about the new leave reason and definition updates