Employers in Seattle, Washington will soon be required by law to give their employees paid sick leave. They must also post a notice of Seattle’s Paid Sick and Safe Time ordinance by September 1, 2012.
Sick leave can be used for mental or physical illness, injury or health condition. It can also be used for medical appointments. Safe leave can be used for reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking. Employees can use sick or safe leave for their own needs or the needs of family members.
Who must provide paid sick and safe time? Employers with 5 or more “full-time equivalent” employees.
Which employees does the ordinance cover? The ordinance applies to full-time, part-time, and temporary employees who work more than 240 hours in a calendar year.
How do employees accrue the paid sick and safe time? The number of sick and safe leave hours that employees can accrue depends on the employer’s number of full-time employees:
- If there are 5 to 49 employees, workers earn up to 40 hours per year.
- If there are 50 to 249 employees, workers earn up to 56 hours per year.
- If there are 250 or more employees, workers earn up to 72 hours per calendar year.
Employees can carry over unused sick and safe time from the previous year. They are also protected from retaliation for using sick and safe leave time.
Compliance Poster Company encourages all Seattle employers to be prepared and obtain the new Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time poster before the ordinance goes into effect on September 1. The ordinance carries steep fines for failure to post.