Tacoma, Washington, Passes Paid Sick Leave Law: Employment Law Manual, Chart Updated

Authors: Melissa Burdorf, Marta Moakley and Melissa Silver, XpertHR Legal Editors

The City of Tacoma, Washington, passed a paid sick leave ordinance that takes effect February 1, 2016. The ordinance covers all private employers with one or more employees and all full-time, part-time and temporary employees who perform work in Tacoma.

Paid sick leave may be used:

  • For an employee's or a family member's health condition;
  • For reasons related to domestic violence (which includes sexual assault and stalking);
  • If an employee's workplace or a child's school/daycare is closed by order of a public official; and
  • For bereavement due to a family member's death.

Employees will earn one hour of paid sick time for every 40 hours worked in Tacoma, up to 24 hours of paid sick time per calendar year. Current employees begin accruing sick time on February 1, 2016, while employees hired after this date will begin accruing as soon as they start working. Employees may not use accrued sick time until the 180th day after employment begins.

The ordinance includes notice, posting and recordkeeping requirements for employers.

In light of this development, the Paid Sick Leave by State and Municipality chart has been updated, along with the following Washington sections of the Employment Law Manual:

A Legal Timetable entry has also been added.