Washington State Provides Employers Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave Claim Data

Jai HookerLegislative Updates

Washington State Provides Employers Access to Paid Family and Medical Leave Claim Data

Jonathan M. Minear, Michael A. Griffin & Sherry L. Talton

Jackson Lewis P.C.

Signed into law by Governor Inslee on May 9, 2023 and effective Jan. 1, 2024, new legislation allows certain interested parties to have access to information from the Washington Security Department, the state agency who administers the paid family and medical leave program, regarding an employee’s leave including:

  • type of leave being taken;
  • requested duration — including the approved dates — of the leave; and
  • whether the employee was approved for benefits and was paid benefits for any given week.

The law defines “interested parties” as an employee, a current employer, or a current employer’s third-party administrator. The information acquired under this law is to be used for the purpose of administering internal employer leave or benefit practices under established employer policies.

***This article originally appeared on the Jackson Lewis’ Disability, Leave & Health Management blog and was reposted on the DMEC website with their permission.***