Family and Medical Leave (FMLA)

What is the Family and Medical Leave Act?

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law in the United States that provides eligible employees with job-protected leave for specific family and medical reasons. Under the FMLA, eligible employees are entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period for:

• The birth and care of a newborn child;
• Adoption or foster care;
• To care for a family member under serious health condition;
• The employee’s own serious health condition makes them unable to perform their job.

How to File Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave?

If you are a worker in Washington State and need to file for Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), you can do so by following these steps:

Determine if you are eligible: To be suitable for PFML in Washington, you must have worked 820 hours or more in the qualifying period, the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters.

Notify your employer: If you need to take leave under the PFML program, you must notify your employer at least 30 days in advance, or as soon as practicable.

Create an account on the Paid Family and Medical Leave website: You can create an account at www.paidleave.wa.gov and provide the necessary information, such as your name, Social Security number, and contact information.

Submit your application: Once you have created your account, you can submit your PFML application online through the website. You will need to provide information about the reason for your leave, the duration of your leave, and any other relevant details.

Provide medical certification: If you are taking leave for your own serious health condition or that of a family member, you may be required to provide medical certification to support your leave request.

Receive benefits: Once your application is approved, you will receive weekly benefit payments while you are on leave. The amount of your benefit will depend on your earnings and the reason for your leave.

How Many States Have Paid Family and Medical Leave?

As of January 2023, legislation requiring paid leave for an employee’s significant health condition or handicap is in effect in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, and Washington, DC.

Also, See: Medicare Tax