Washington's statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave insurance program which launched in 2019 is intended to provide wage replacement and job protection to employees who need time away from work to tend to family or medical needs. The program is funded by both employer and employee payroll contributions.
What you need to know
- This statewide insurance plan requires employers to report employee wages, hours worked, and additional information every quarter.
- Premiums are 0.92% of gross wages paid up to the Social Security wage limit of $184,500.
- Workers can take leave for qualified events for up to 12 weeks generally, and up to 18 weeks under exceptional circumstances.
- Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not required to pay the employer portion of the premium but are required to collect and remit the employee portion of the premium and abide by all reporting requirements.
State resources and support
For more information on the program, please contact the Washington state customer care team:
Email: paidleave@esd.wa.gov
Phone: (833) 717-2273
FAQ
Below are some common questions asked by Washington employers about the program and how the deductions will appear in OnPay.
- Yes, OnPay will deposit the withheld funds for both the employee and employer portion and file the necessary reports to the state.
- No, employers must opt-in to have their portion calculate. To opt-in, go to Payroll Taxes and select "Washington". Scroll down to the "Washington State Paid Family Leave and Medical Insurance Setup", and check the box "Employer Required".
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Employers must opt-in to have their portion calculate, and will see this deduction on the payroll register or employee check stub. The title of the employee deduction is "FLI Withholding-WA" and the Employer portion will display as "Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave - Employer".
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Go to the exempt employee's profile, and click Tax Withholding.
Under "State Withholding", you'll see "Employe Paid Family Leave and Medical Insurance Exempt", where you can select True.
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