Washington State Sick & Family Leave Laws

The House Labor & Workforce Development Committee passed two bills yesterday mandating paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave. HB 1457 would entitle a worker to up to 6 months of paid leave in any one year. If these laws are passed, they will have a significant negative impact on all business owners, and especially small business owners, and thereby significantly reduce Washington State job creation.

From the Washington Policy Center:

HB 1313 would extend the paid sick leave ordinance passed by Seattle last year to employers across the state. The bill would require employers with 5 or more employees to pay employees for 5, 7 or 9 days of sick or safe leave per year, depending on the size of the company. Only one other state (Connecticut) mandates paid sick leave.

HB 1457 would significantly expand the current paid family leave law that was passed in 2007 but never implemented because a funding source was never agreed upon. The new bill would provide up to $1,000 per week for 12 weeks for a child's birth or adoption or for a family member's "serious health condition," and another 12 weeks of paid leave for the individual's "serious health condition." Workers could apply for both benefits in the same year, meaning they could receive 24 weeks of paid leave in one year. Employees would be eligible for the paid leave upon working 6 months or 650 hours.

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Unlike its weaker predecessor, SHB 1457 does identify a funding source—a new payroll tax. The tax would be paid by employers with the option to charge employees half of the tax, and the program would be administered by the Employment Securities Department. Only two states (California and New Jersey) have laws mandating paid family leave.

The fiscal note for HB 1457 is staggering. According to OFM it will cost employers and workers $97 million in new taxes in 2013-15, $342 million in 2015-17 and $387 million in 2017-19.