Washington
Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (WA PFML)
Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (WA PFML)
The Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave (WA PFML) program started paying benefits in January 2020. Wage replacement benefits are payable to WA workers for medical leave (ML) if they are unable to work due to non-work-related injury or illness, including pregnancy and childbirth, or for paid family leave (PFL), if they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member, to bond with a new child, and to address a military exigency.
Coverage Options: Employers can participate in the state-run program or self-insure the PFL and/or PML coverages with a voluntary plan. MetLife provides administrative services for employers who have state approved voluntary plans.
Job Protection: The WA PFML coverage is job protected. When applicable, a worker should request leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) concurrently.
Benefits:
- $1,456 maximum per week
- 12 weeks of paid leave to care for oneself or a family member
- 16 weeks total for both family and medical events in a year
- Up to 18 weeks combined medical and family (child bonding) for complications due to pregnancy
Contributions:
- The contribution rate is 0.74% of an employee's wage up to $168,600 with a maximum contribution of $1,247.64 per year
- Paid Family Leave can be 100% employee paid (payroll deducted) and Paid Medical Leave can be split between the employee (payroll deducted) up to 45% and the employer contributing the rest (55%).
As of April 2, 2024
What's new with WA PFML?
Check out this short video for more information.
What is Paid Family & Medical Leave?
The information presented in this brochure is not legal advice and should not be relied upon or construed as legal advice. It is not permissible for MetLife or its employees or agents to give legal advice. The information in this brochure is for general informational purposes only and does not purport to be complete or to cover every situation. You must consult with your own legal advisors to determine how these laws will affect you. Like most insurance policies, insurance policies offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. Please contact MetLife or your plan administrator for complete details. Further, the information in this brochure does not reflect MetLife’s or any particular employer’s internal policies or the benefits available to its employees. All employees, regardless of employer, should consult with their own HR, benefits manager, or visit their HR website for information on the benefits available to them.