What are the legal requirements for providing paid time off?

In Washington, employers are legally obligated to provide paid time off to their employees for various reasons, such as vacation, illness, family leave, and jury duty. The Washington State Minimum Wage Act (MWA) defines the applicable minimum pay rate, as well as the amount of paid time off that must be provided to employees. Employers must allow employees to accrue at least one hour of paid leave for every 40 hours worked. This accrual rate is capped at a maximum of 24 hours per year, for a total of 192 hours over the course of 8 years. These hours must be provided at the employee’s regular rate of pay. Employees may use their accrued paid time off for any purpose, including vacation time, sick days, or jury duty. When an employee leaves his or her employment, employers must reimburse the employee for any unused accrued paid time off, provided that the employee has worked for the employer for at least 90 days. This pay must be in addition to any wages due to the employee, and should be paid out at the employee’s regular rate of pay. Under the MWA, employers must also allow employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave each year. During this time, the employee’s job is protected and their group health insurance must remain in effect. It is important for employers to be aware of the legal requirements for providing paid time off in Washington, as failure to do so can result in damages for the employee.

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What are the legal requirements for providing paid time off?

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