Volunteer Firefighter Leave

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Volunteer Firefighter Leave
This law passed by the legislature in 2004 (RCW 49.12.460) was designed to protect volunteer firefighters and reserve officers from employer discipline when an emergency call or fire alarm prevents them from showing up to work on time.

• Applies to all employers in the Washington state.
• Applies to all employees who are volunteer firefighters or reserve officers.
• Allows a volunteer firefighter or reserve officer responding to, working at, or returning from a fire alarm or emergency call:
• To be late or miss work;
• If their presence is requested by the on scene commander;
• It does not apply if they are already at their job when a call comes in.

If the complaint is timely (made to L&I within 90 days) the Director can order the employer to reinstate the employee or order discipline to be rescinded.

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For questions about any of Washington's leave laws, contact the Employment Standards program at your local L&I office or the central office in Tumwater at 360-902-5316.