Washington has amended its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program by making several key changes.
In a significant departure from the former landscape, the amendments extend job restoration rights to employees of smaller employers than previously. Before amendment, the law did not provide for job restoration rights to employees who work for an employer with fewer than 50 employees in Washington. That number is now reduced to 25 employees from January 1 to December 31, 2026; to 15 employees from January 1 to December 31, 2027; and to eight employees from January 1 to December 21, 2028. This job restoration right will apply to any employee who has worked for an employer for at least 180 calendar days before taking leave.
The amendment also allows employers to prevent stacking of certain employment protection rights by extending employment protection in the PFML program to periods of unpaid leave protected by the Federal Family and Medical Leave Act, so long as the employer provides certain notices to the employee, and providing that employment protection expires after certain periods.
Additionally, there is an expansion to health care coverage protection during any period in which an employee receives PFML benefits and is also entitled to employment protection.
Finally, small employers will have access to grants to offset the costs of employees’ use of leave in PFML.
The amendments become effective January 1, 2026.
