WA State Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) Expansion

Beginning January 1, 2026, Washington State will significantly expand its Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program through House Bill 1213. A key part of these changes is the shift in employer size thresholds for job protection. Here's what employers should know:

1. Gradual Expansion of Employer Size Thresholds

The phased-in changes reduce the number of employees a company must have before PFML job protection applies:

• 2026: employers with 25 or more Washington-based employees

• 2027: employers with 15–24 employees

• 2028 and beyond: employers with 8–14 employees

Previously, only employers with 50 or more employees were subject to these protections.

2. More Employees Qualify — Shorter Tenure Requirements

Eligibility now requires only 180 calendar days of employment—no minimum hours worked—replacing the former threshold of 12 months or 1,250 hours,

3. Health Benefits Must Continue During Leave

If PFML protections apply, employer-sponsored health care must be maintained during the entire leave—just like under FMLA.

4. New PFML & FMLA Coordination Rules

Employers can now track unpaid FMLA against job protection under PFML, but only if they issue timely written notices when FMLA is taken separately, preventing stacking. Without notice, both protections apply fully.

5. Shorter Leave Increments

Employees may now take intermittent leave in blocks of at least 4 consecutive hours (down from the previous 8-hour minimum).