What is the difference between paid and unpaid leave?

Paid leave and unpaid leave are two separate types of leave that are commonly used by employers in Washington state. Paid leave refers to any type of leave from work that an employee is paid for, such as vacation, sick days, or other personal days. An employee on paid leave typically continues to receive their normal rate of pay, paid in full, for the duration of the leave. Unpaid leave, on the other hand, is any form of leave for which an employee does not receive payment. This type of leave may include certain types of family leave, jury duty, or other leave taken for personal reasons. In Washington, unpaid leave may be granted by an employer, but is not legally required to be granted. In most cases, unpaid leave may be granted only in specific situations, such as when an employee must take time off to care for a sick family member. In general, employees who are granted unpaid leave are not entitled to any pay or benefits while they are away from work, though employers may choose to voluntarily provide some type of monetary compensation in certain cases.

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