In WA state you currently accrue 1 hour of Paid Sick Leave for every 40 hours worked. Before the changes in the law, you would have to work for an employer for more than 90 days to be able to use your PSL hours. If you were separated from your employer before 90 days, you would never have a chance to use those hours.
Washington state has new paid sick leave standards, effective January 2024.
“Construction workers employed by construction industry employers for less than 90 days before separation from employment, must be paid the balance of their accrued and unused paid sick leave following separation”, in accordance with RCW 49.46.210(1)(l)
Other states currently have paid sick leave laws, but if you’re working under a CBA you are excluded from the receiving mandatory paid sick leave. In WA state, your collective bargaining agreement has to have something written that’s equivalent to the paid sick leave law or the state law is the standard.
It doesn’t matter the circumstances of your separation. Laid off, quit or terminated, that’s your paid sick leave money.
The new law, as of 2024 only applies to commercial/industrial construction, not residential.
Do your research in the state your are working!
Here are some useful links for your in depth understanding of WA state PAID SICK LEAVE!
- https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave
- https://lni.wa.gov/…/paid-sick-leave-for-construction…
- https://www.lni.wa.gov/rulemaking-activity/AO23-18/2318CES.pdf
