Washington’s Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) is a state-administered benefit to employees that is paid for by employees and employers. In 2026, there were major changes to the PFML. Rocke Law Group recently held a free webinar on this topic. If you missed it, here are the top three things Washington employers should know: 

• Eligibility: Employees who have worked 820 hours in the year prior to taking leave can receive paid leave under PFML (down from 1,250 hours). 
• Job Protection: In 2026, employers with 25 or more employees (down from 50 employees) must protect the jobs of employees returning from PFML, if the employee was employed for 180 days or more (before taking the leave). Job protection means the employee is restored to an equivalent position with equivalent benefits, pay, and other terms. Health insurance must be maintained during the leave (employees still pay their portion). 
• No More “Stacking”: New laws provide employers with ways to prevent employees from “stacking” unpaid FMLA leave with paid PFML. The new law allows employers to count FMLA leave towards the PFML job protection period, even if the employee does not immediately apply for PFML. Employers must provide timely written notice (within 5 days) to the employee that they are counting the FMLA leave towards the PFML job protection period.  Be aware that the notice must contain specific and technical language. 

Washington’s PFML laws are complex (and becoming more so)! Many other changes occurred in 2026. Employers need to ensure their notices and policies are compliant with ever-changing PFML laws. Below, we have multiple free resources for Washington employers to help with compliance. These resources are not a replacement for legal advice, tailored to your company’s needs. It is advised that employers seek legal counsel to ensure their practices and policies are compliant. 

Additional Free Resources for Washington Leave

2026 WA PFML Changes Guide

Want a more in-depth explanation of the changes made to Washington PFML in 2026? Our team created a free downloadable guide, linked below. Learn what you need to know and do to stay compliant, reduce risk, and support your workforce. Bonus: a compliance checklist is included!

What is covered in the guide?

1. Expanded Job Protection
2. Shorter Minimum Leave Increments
3. Health Insurance Continuation
4. FMLA and PFML Leave “Stacking”
5. Notice Requirements
6. Premiums and Small Business Grants
7. What Employers Need to Do Now
8. 2026 PFML Compliance Checklist
9. How Rocke Law Can Support You

Download the free guide (PDF) here

WA Employer’s Guide to PSL, PFML, and FMLA

Our team of Washington employment attorneys wrote a comprehensive guide for employers regarding federal and state Paid Sick Leave (PSL), Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Leave requirements are only becoming more complex, putting unknowing employers at risk of noncompliance. It is essential to take a proactive approach in understanding your obligations and options as a business owner, HR professional, or manager.

Topics covered are:

• Eligibility requirements
• Duration
• Job protection
• Leave stacking
• Request response
• Health benefits
• Substitutions
• Employee and employer obligations
• Risks for employers

Download the free guide (.DOC) here

PFML Notice Document Template

When you know that your Washington-based employee takes family or medical leave that may be protected under Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) you must provide a compliant PFML notice within 5 days. This does not cover FMLA notice obligations, which may also be required.

Required: Provide a notice of PFML rights to the employee.

Recommended: Download the document below, and have the employee review, fill out, and sign a copy of it – keep it in your records. In the event that it is not practicable, we recommend you document that the form was provided to the employee and state the reason they did not sign it.

Download the Notice of Rights and Time Frames for Family Leave

Leave Policies in Your Employee Handbook

Have you updated your employee handbook since January 1, 2026? That is the date the changes to Washington PFML went into effect. Multiple laws were also made effective in July 2025. A brief recap can be found here. Your handbook is the foundation for your business’s compliance strategy. The policies shape your employees’, managers’, and HR department’s understanding and approach to the workplace you have created. It can serve different purposes, customized to your business’s needs, such as meeting compliance standards, general guidance for managers and HR, and/or a comprehensive document containing employer and management-side processes, leaving few questions for your team. We highly recommend having Paid Sick Leave (PSL), Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policies in your handbook as a risk-mitigation strategy. 

With our primary practice being employment law in Washington, we recognize the importance of a sound handbook and have decades of experience reading them. It’s the first place a plaintiff attorney will check when your ex-employee pursues a claim against your business. We offer an Employee Handbook Review service with 3 tiers differentiating in company size, price, and level of customization. Our highly experienced employment paralegals and attorneys use a tried-and-true auditing process, provide you with compliant policies, and can deliver a print-ready version of your new handbook.