Washington state comes up with new family leave law

Guardian -Employers in Washington state – regardless of their size – are preparing for a new paid family leave law that takes effect on 1 January.

The law requires almost all employers to collect and remit new premiums, and fulfill new reporting and notice requirements. Under the law, workers can take up to 18 weeks for combined family and medical paid leave a year and earn up to $1,000 a week (depending on their salary) for things such as the birth of a child, a serious illness or to care for a sick family member.

The benefits, which would go into effect in 2020, are among the most generous in the country.

The premiums are 0.4% of an employee’s wages (or $10 of a $2,500 paycheck) and can be split with employees funding up to 63% of the amount. Companies with fewer than 50 employees only have to collect and remit the employee portion. Self-employed workers and independent contractors are exempt.