Washington becomes fifth state with paid family leave law

Seattle Times -Washington state is now among a handful of states that guarantee paid family leave, after Gov. Jay Inslee’s signing  of a bipartisan plan approved by the Legislature.

The measure offers eligible workers 12 weeks paid time off for the birth or adoption of a child or for the serious medical condition of the worker or the worker’s family member beginning in 2020, or 16 weeks for a combination of both. An additional two weeks may be used if there is a serious health condition with a pregnancy.

Washington joins four other states with paid family-leave programs: California, New Jersey, Rhode Island and New York, though New York’s program doesn’t take effect until next year. The District of Columbia earlier this year also approved a paid family leave law, though it doesn’t take effect until July 2020. More from the Legislature