New laws in Seattle and Washington State allow certain gig workers greater access to traditional employee benefits.
Washington Amends Its Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
The Washington State Legislature has again amended the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Act.
Revised Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Expands Who Are Covered Family Members
Beginning July 25, 2021, employees can use Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WPFML) to care for more people.
Washington Amends Its Paid Family and Medical Leave Act in Response to Pandemic
The Washington State Legislature has temporarily amended the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Act to create pandemic leave assistance grants for certain employees and employers.
Washington Governor Creates COVID-19 Food Production Workers Paid Leave Program
Under the Washington COVID-19 Food Production Workers Paid Leave Program, no food production employer in Washington may operate from Aug. 18, 2020, to Nov. 13, 2020, unless the employer provides its workers with paid leave for certain qualifying events.
Seattle Enacts Gig Worker Paid Sick & Safe Time Ordinance During COVID-19 Crisis
The Seattle City Council has enacted the Paid Sick and Safe Time for Gig Workers Ordinance, which temporarily provides paid sick and safe time for online-based food delivery network companies and drivers of transportation network companies with 250 or more gig workers worldwide.
Washington Proclamation Extending Time Period for High-Risk Employee Job Protection
Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has issued a new Proclamation that extends until 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 1, 2020, the job protections in place for “high-risk” Washington employees.
Seattle Bans Employers from Requiring Medical Verification for Paid Sick Leave for 60 Days
Under Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) law, an employer normally may require verification (including a doctor’s note) for the use of PSST after three consecutive workdays in which the employee uses paid sick/safe leave.
Washington Amends its Paid Family and Medical Leave Act
On Mar. 26, 2020, Governor Jay Inslee signed into law amendments to the Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Act.
Seattle Expands Its Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance in Response to COVID-19
Effective Mar. 18, 2020, the Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) Ordinance allows eligible employees working in Seattle to use PSST when their family member’s school or place of care is closed, regardless of whether such closure is made by a public official.
Paid Sick Leave Quarterly: 4th Quarter 2019
The end of 2019 brought more nuances, but also resolutions to paid sick leave (PSL) state and local laws. For instance, challenges to the Michigan PSL law and Alabama preemption law were resolved, but the PSL turbulence in Texas continues as we await a decision from the Texas Supreme Court on whether it will wade into the PSL controversy.
Washington Weighs in on Obesity Discrimination
The state of Washington has weighed in on the debate as to whether obesity is a disability under disability discrimination laws.
Washington Pushes Back First Reporting Deadline for Paid Family and Medical Leave Law
By Aug. 31, 2019, all Washington employers must file reports about their employees, including their wages and associated hours worked during the first two quarters of 2019.
Compliance Memos: July 2018
Paid Sick Leave Laws Advancing in More States in 2018 This year is the most active yet for implementation of state paid sick leave (PSL) laws, including: Washington (January), Maryland … Read More