Paid Sick Days - Washington

Earning paid sick days keeps bodies - and bottom lines - healthy

Washington State

Washington State already sets minimum standards for wages, child labor, and worker health and safety. These laws safeguard workers and the public, protect businesses from undercutting by unscrupulous competitors, and make our communities stronger.

But 43% of American workers in private firms receive no paid sick days - over 1 million workers in Washington state. One-fourth of workers get no vacation, and 92% get no paid family leave.

Attempts in 2003 and 2006 to establish paid sick legislation for Washington state have not yet been successful, but with continued strong public support for the measures, and momentum building in other states and cities for similar measures, Washington may soon have the the legislative support required to pass a paid sick days bill.

Family Care Act

Governor Gary Locke signed the Family Care bill into law on March 29, 2002. Employees in Washington state are entitled to use sick leave or other paid time off to care for an ill spouse, child under 18, disabled child over age 18, parent, parent-in-law, or grandparent. The Washington Family Leave Coalition worked hard for the bill's passage.

Featured Publication

Paid Sick Days and Restaurant Jobs: The Evidence from San Francisco

Restaurants are among the employers least likely to provide sick leave benefits. Therefore, if minimum paid leave standards effect the number of jobs available, we would expect to see that impact most clearly in the food service industry. However, the data show that the job market in restaurants and bars has been stronger in San Francisco than in the state of California as a whole in every year since San Francisco's sick days law passed.Fact Sheet »

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Policy Impact

Sharon took on many added responsibilities when her father began his battle with cancer in 2007. She never expected her employer of 19 years to be anything less than supportive – until she started taking time off...