Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) provides up to 12 weeks of paid leave for qualifying family, medical, caregiving, and military-related reasons.

Legislative changes scheduled for 2026 may significantly reduce employee eligibility requirements and expand job protection obligations.

What is Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)?

Washington State Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) is a state-administered program that provides eligible employees with paid leave for certain family and medical reasons. The program is administered by the Employment Security Department (ESD)  and applies to most employers with employees working in Washington State.

What does Washington State PFML cover?

Washington State PFML provides paid leave for the following qualifying reasons:
Parental leave
Medical leave for an employee’s own serious health condition
Family caregiving leave
Military-related leave
Pregnancy- and childbirth-related medical complications

How is Washington State PFML funded?

Washington State PFML is funded through mandatory payroll premiums shared between employees and employers. Employers are responsible for withholding employee contributions, remitting both portions of the premium, and reporting wages to the state.

Beginning January 1, 2026, the total premium rate will increase to 1.13% of gross wages, with employees contributing approximately 71.43% and employers contributing approximately 28.57% of the total premium.

What core benefits does Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) provide?

Who is eligible for Washington State PFML?

What are the employee eligibility requirements?

Employees are currently eligible for Washington State PFML if they have worked at least 820 hours during the qualifying period, defined as the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters before the claim is filed.

A legislative  amendment  scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, if funded, will:
Eliminate the hours-of-work requirement
Reduce eligibility to 180 calendar days of employment as of the start of leave

Which employers must participate?

All employers with employees working in Washington State are required to participate in the PFML program, regardless of company size.

How much leave can employees take under Washington State PFML?

The standard maximum benefit is 12 weeks of paid leave in a 52-week period beginning on the first day of leave.

When does combined leave apply?

In limited circumstances, employees who take both family and medical leave within the same benefit year may be eligible for:
Up to 16 weeks of combined leave
Up to 18 weeks if pregnancy- or childbirth-related complications occur

What types of leave are available under Washington State PFML?

How much are Washington State PFML benefits?

Washington State PFML benefits are calculated by the Employment Security Department based on the employee’s average weekly wage.

The minimum weekly benefit is $100, unless the employee earns less than $100 per week, in which case they receive their full weekly wage.

For claims beginning on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum weekly benefit is $1,647.

Does Washington State PFML include job protection?

Washington State PFML includes job protection for eligible employees.

Employees generally qualify for job protection if:
The employer has 50 or more employees in Washington State
The employee has worked for the employer for at least 12 months
The employee has worked at least 1,250 hours during the 12 months before leave

Eligible employees must be restored to the same or an equivalent position with equal pay, benefits, and working conditions upon return from leave.

When can employers deny job restoration under Washington State PFML?

Employers may deny job restoration if they can demonstrate that:
The employee’s position would not have existed at the time of return, or
The employee is among the highest-paid 10% of salaried employees within 75 miles of the worksite

Employees without job protection under the PFML may still qualify for protection under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or other applicable state laws.

How will Washington State PFML job protection expand starting in 2026?

Subject to pending legislative amendments, job protection requirements will expand to smaller employers in phases:
Calendar year 2026: Employers with 25 or more employees
Calendar year 2027: Employers with 15 or more employees
From January 1, 2028, onward: Employers with 8 or more employees

How do employees apply for Washington State PFML benefits?

Employees must apply directly through the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Employees may be required to submit supporting documentation, such as:
Birth or placement documentation for parental bonding leave
Medical certification for medical or caregiving leave

Contact details for Paid Family & Medical Leave Washington

Call us at (833) 717-2273.