As of 2020, new mother and father in Washington state can take as much as 16 weeks of paid leave to remain dwelling with their youngster. The brand new coverage will go into impact beginning January 1, 2020, making Washington considered one of solely 4 states within the U.S. that at present supply paid household go away.
“It’s a profit for the individuals who might take the go away, but it surely’s additionally a profit for employers,” Carla Reyes, the director of the state’s paid household and medical go away, told The Seattle Times. “We’re hoping it can assist individuals recuperate quicker and return to work quicker.”
By means of the state’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program, which was applied in 2018, people will have the ability to take 12 weeks of paid go away after the beginning of their youngster, whereas {couples} will have the ability to take a mixed 16 weeks. Moreover, any mother or father identified with being pregnant issues shall be eligible for as much as 18 weeks.
To qualify for the advantages, which shall be paid as a proportion of wages as much as $1,000, the mother or father will need to have labored 820 hours within the final 12 months. The worker may be full-time, part-time, and even self-employed and may have labored for both one or a number of employers. If eligible, the typical particular person will contribute about $2 per week to their go away fund.
Washington’s new initiative is a component of a bigger push for higher parental go away insurance policies within the U.S., which is the one developed nation with out assured paid parental go away. At present, California, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island are the one states with a paid go away program, whereas plans within the District of Columbia and Massachusetts are set to roll out within the subsequent few years.
Many hope that Washington’s latest determination to supply paid go away will set a precedent for extra states to observe swimsuit.
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