PAID SICK LEAVE LAW CHANGES WENT INTO EFFECT ON JANUARY 1, 2025

Employers take note, changes went into effect January 1, 2025 to the Paid Sick Law. The changes approved by the passage of ESSB 5793 by the 2024 Washington State Legislature updates how some family members are defined, expands the definition of family member, and broadens when workers can utilize sick leave.

Approved Changes Include:

• Definitions for family member, child and parent have been updated.
• Grandchild, grandparent, and spouse have been redefined.
• Family member is now defined to include any individual regularly residing within the employees’ home or where the employee’s relationship with the person assumes the expectation of care and that individual depends on the employee for care.
• Provides clarification that paid sick leave can be utilized by an employee if their place of business, child’s school or place of care is closed due to an emergency declaration by a local or state government agency or by the federal government.

All the details are provided on the Labor and Industries Paid Sick Leave Page and employers can review their responsibilities here.

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