Washington State (USA) Paid Sick Leave: A Practical Guide
07 Oct 2026
3 min read
Washington State provides paid sick leave protections for eligible employees, allowing workers to take paid time away from work for certain health, family and other qualifying reasons.
Understanding how Washington's paid sick leave system works can help workers understand their rights and help employers meet their workplace obligations.
This guide provides an overview of Washington State's paid sick leave requirements.
Who Is Entitled to Paid Sick Leave?
Washington law requires employers to provide paid sick leave to employees who are covered by the State's Minimum Wage Act, RCW 49.46.
This includes full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees.
Some workers may fall outside the coverage of the Minimum Wage Act because of their particular employment status, duties or other statutory exemptions.
An employee's immigration or documentation status does not, by itself, affect their entitlement to paid sick leave.
Employers must notify employees of their paid sick leave rights.
How Is Paid Sick Leave Earned?
Employees must accrue at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked.
Employees begin accruing paid sick leave from their first day of employment.
Employees generally become entitled to use accrued paid sick leave beginning on the 90th calendar day after employment starts.
What Can Paid Sick Leave Be Used For?
Paid sick leave may generally be used for:
A. Employee’s Own Health
Mental or physical illness
Injury
A health condition
Medical diagnosis
Preventive medical care
B. Caring For a Family Member
Paid sick leave may be used to care for a qualifying family member who needs care because of an illness, injury or health condition, or who needs medical or preventive care.
Qualifying family members can include:
Parent
Spouse or registered domestic partner
Child
Grandparent
Grandchild
Washington law also covers certain other family or household relationships.
C. Workplace, School or Place-of-Care Closures
Paid sick leave may be used, for instance, when:
An employee’s workplace has been closed by order of a public official for a health-related reason; or
An employee’s child's school or place of care has been closed for a health-related reason.
D. Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Stalking or Hate Crimes
Paid sick leave may be used for absences that qualify for leave under Washington's Domestic Violence Leave Act.
In Washington, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or hate crimes have the opportunity to take time off from work.
This may include time needed for purposes such as obtaining legal or law-enforcement assistance, medical or psychological care, accessing social services, safety planning or relocating.
E. Immigration proceedings
Paid sick leave may also be used to prepare for or participate in a judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee or the employee's family member.
An employer may allow an employee to use paid sick leave for additional purposes beyond those required by State law.
How Much Should an Employee Be Paid?
When paid sick leave is used, an employee must generally receive their normal hourly compensation for the hours of leave used.
The calculation of normal hourly compensation can vary depending on how an employee is paid.
When Must Paid Sick Leave Be Paid?
Employers generally must pay employees for paid sick leave no later than the payday for the pay period in which the sick leave was used.
Different timing may apply where an employer has properly required verification for an absence exceeding three required workdays.
How Much Paid Sick Leave Carries Over?
At the end of an accrual year, an employer must carry over up to 40 hours of accrued, unused paid sick leave into the following year.
Paid sick leave earned during the new year is added to the hours carried over.
An employer may provide a more generous carryover policy.
Can an Employer Require an Employee to Find a Replacement?
No.
An employer cannot require an employee to find another worker to cover the absence as a condition of using paid sick leave.
An employer also cannot require the employee to make up the missed time as a condition of using the leave.
An employee may voluntarily agree to swap shifts or make another arrangement.
Can an Employer Punish an Employee for Using Paid Sick Leave?
No.
Employees are protected from retaliation or other adverse action for lawfully using accrued paid sick leave.
An employer generally cannot count lawful paid sick leave as an absence that may result in disciplinary action.
What If an Employer Violates the Law?
If an employee believes that an employer has failed to provide paid sick leave or has otherwise violated Washington's paid sick leave requirements, the employee can file a complaint with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).
Local Laws May Provide Additional Protections
Washington State establishes minimum paid sick leave requirements. Some local jurisdictions may have additional or more generous requirements.
Employees and employers should check whether local requirements apply to their workplace.
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Important Note
This guide provides general legal information for educational purposes only. Laws and requirements may change, and the application of the law depends on the circumstances. For specific legal advice about your situation, please consult a qualified lawyer. Accessing or using this information does not create a lawyer–client relationship.
Last updated: October 2026