HR Badge #09: Leaves: Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA)-HR Badge #9

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Attorney John Dalley explains Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA) for school districts, focusing on eligibility, employer duties, and employee rights. Districts must post a state-provided PFML notice and must also give written notice of PFML rights when they learn an employee will miss more than seven consecutive workdays for a family/medical reason. Employees qualify if they worked 820 hours in Washington during the relevant four-quarter “lookback” period, which is lower than FMLA’s 1,250-hour threshold, so PFMLA can apply when FMLA does not.<br /><br />PFMLA covers family leave (bonding after birth/placement, caring for a family member with a serious health condition, certain military-related needs) and medical leave (the employee’s own serious health condition). PFMLA definitions of “child,” “parent,” and “family member” are broader than FMLA, including in-laws, adult children regardless of dependency, and grandparents/grandchildren.<br /><br />Leave amounts are up to 12 weeks, up to 16 weeks combined family/medical, and up to 18 weeks with pregnancy complications. PFMLA may run concurrently with FMLA, but employees may “stack” leave depending on timing. Employees generally must take at least 8 hours/week to claim benefits and may face a 7-day waiting period (waived for bonding/qualifying exigency). The Employment Security Department (ESD) decides eligibility; districts may respond or challenge. ESD pays benefits; employers may optionally provide “supplemental benefits” to fill wage gaps. Health benefits continuation and job restoration largely hinge on FMLA-like criteria and overlap, with limited exceptions and required notices if restoration is denied.

Keywords

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave Act (PFMLA)

school district employer compliance

PFML notice posting and written notice requirements

820-hour eligibility lookback period

family leave and medical leave coverage

expanded definition of family member (in-laws, grandparents)

leave duration limits (12/16/18 weeks) and stacking with FMLA

Employment Security Department (ESD) benefits determination and employer challenges