Washington Content Updated to Reflect New Ordinance in SeaTac, WA

Author: Melissa Burdorf, XpertHR Legal Editor

The Other Leaves: Washington, FMLA: Washington and Minimum Wage: Washington sections of the Employment Law Manual have been updated to include a new local ordinance in SeaTac, Washington, which requires employers in the hospitality and transportation industries to provide eligible employees with paid sick and safe leave and pay a minimum wage of $15.00 per hour.

For covered SeaTac employers, paid sick leave may run concurrently with leave taken under the federal and state FMLA, where applicable. However, because SeaTac's rules for employer coverage and employee eligibility are less onerous than the FMLA, an employee may be eligible for leave under the SeaTac ordinance before he or she is eligible for federal FMLA leave - thereby leaving the FMLA leave time untouched.

The city of SeaTac anticipates that multiple parties may appeal various portions of a December 2013 county court decision upholding the constitutionality of the decision. XpertHR will monitor any developments and update the relevant content accordingly.