Employee Leaves

PFML (WA Paid Family & Medical Leave)

Paid Family Medical Leave is a Washington State program that provides employees with partial wage replacement while they take time off for family or medical reasons. This includes caring for a newborn, a seriously ill family member, or addressing a personal health condition.

*In order to be eligible to take leave under PFML, an employee must: Have been employed for at least 820 hours in the state of Washington during the qualifying period and experience a qualifying event.

Please submit a complete Leave of Absence to HR and communicate your intent to apply for PFML. We encourage you to notify your supervisor and HR at least 30 days in advance, unless there are extenuating circumstances that prevent you from providing notice this early.

Here are some helpful PFML resources:
Review Employment Security Department's helpful Guides for Parental Leave or Patient/Family Leave
Review Employment Security Department's Application Checklist
Check out the Employment Security Department's Benefits Guide
Apply for PFML through the Employment Security Department website.
Paid Leave Good to know/FAQ

NOTE: Not all illnesses, injuries or situations will qualify you to take Paid Family and Medical Leave. Paid medical leave is for your own serious health condition. Paid family leave is for the adoption, birth or placement of a child, for the care of a family member with a serious health condition, and for a qualifying military exigency.

FMLA (FMLA Employee Guide)

Family and Medical Leave provides eligible employees up to 12 work-weeks of unpaid leave per year. The District determines when to designate a leave as FMLA based on the facts of each individual situation, this is achieved through FMLA forms that must be completed by you and your healthcare provider prior to authorization of FMLA. If an employee is eligible for FMLA, the required forms will be provided by Human Resources. Employees are also entitled to return to their same or an equivalent job at the end of their FMLA leave.

*In order to be eligible to take leave under FMLA, an employee must:

• Work for a covered employer;
• Have worked 1,250 hours during the 12 months prior to the start of leave (Paid leave and unpaid leave, including FMLA leave, are not included); and
• Have worked for the employer for 12 months
• Complete Leave of Absence Request

NOTE: The District would continue its contribution for employee’s benefits for up to 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, employee’s benefits could continue through COBRA. Information will be mailed to the employee when he/she becomes eligible for COBRA, and then the employee can make elections and pay premiums directly to COBRA.

PFML is a state program. FMLA is a federal program.

The federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an unpaid leave entitlement that provides job and health insurance protection when eligible employees take a leave of absence for a qualifying reason. The Washington State Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program is a state of Washington program that provides partial wage replacement in the form of a weekly benefit paid by ESD while claiming this benefit.

In short, Paid Family and Medical Leave does not replace FMLA. While there are some similarities between the programs, there are also notable differences such as:

• The state program (Paid Family and Medical Leave) provides paid leave. FMLA is unpaid leave.
• Human Resources determines when to designate a leave as FMLA covered.
• Employees choose whether and when to file a PFML claim. PFML does not replace FMLA. In many cases PFML and FMLA will run at the same time.
• The Washington State Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) program is a state of Washington program that provides partial wage replacement in the form of a weekly benefit paid by ESD while claiming this benefit. 
• The federal Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an unpaid leave entitlement that provides job and health insurance protection when eligible employees take a leave of absence for a qualifying reason. 

Congratulations! 

What is Parental Leave?
Parental leave is time off from work used to bond with a new child, either by birth, adoption, or foster placement.

Bereavement Leave

Bereavement leave is available for employees in times of loss. This leave is designed to provide you with the necessary time to grieve and attend to important matters following the passing of a loved one. The number of days of leave should not exceed five (5) per occasion of death. These days are not cumulative or transferable.

A Bereavement Leave Request form must be submitted for bereavement leave. After completing the form, please route the form to your immediate supervisor.

Please refer to your Collective Bargaining Agreement for additional information on who is covered under your specific union group.

Shared Leave

The District's Shared Leave Program allows other employees within the District to donate leave to you, for a serious health condition, care for a parent or child with a serious health condition and Parental Leave.

If you believe your medical condition falls within the parameters of Shared Leave eligibility, please complete a Shared Leave Application.

To Donate leave to someone who has been approved for shared leave, please complete Shared Leave Donation form.

Unpaid Leave

Unpaid leave is only approved in very limited circumstances. Plan ahead. The Leave Request Form must be completed for all unpaid leave requests.

Military Leave
This is a request for time away from work to fulfill duties and obligations for certain types of active or inactive duty in the National Guard or as a Reservist of the Armed Forces. All employees who are members of any of the United States uniformed services are eligible for military duty leave. 

Please contact your HR Representative for a review of your leave options.