Pregnancy & Parental Leave

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Pregnancy & Parental Leave	in Spanish

When can a parent take leave for pregnancy or for a new child?

Who can take leave to care for a new child, and how much can they take?

A parent can take up to 12 weeks of paid or unpaid leave (depending on the employer) to care for a newborn, adopted, or foster child if she/he:
- Works for a business with 50 or more employees.
- Has worked at least 12 months for that business for a total of at least 1,250 hours in the preceding year.
For more detail, see the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) or contact 1-866-487-9243.
Does a parent get PAID leave while taking time off to care for a new child?

Neither Washington State nor federal laws require that parents get paid leave while taking time off to care for a new child.
What rights do you have for time off for pregnancy?

The answer depends on how many workers the woman's employer has. If the woman's employer has:
- Fewer than 8 employees, she is not guaranteed a job when she is able to return to work. See information on the Washington State Human Rights Commission.
- 8 or more employees, she is allowed maternity disability leave and is entitled to return to work when released by her health care provider. The disability leave is based on her individual condition and may include all the time her health care provider determines she is unable to work. For more information on maternity disability, see the Washington State Human Rights Commission web site, or contact 1-800-233-3247.
- 50 or more employees - The Washington State Family Leave Act (FLA) provices pregnant women more time off in addition to the 12 weeks of leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The qualifications for the state FLA and FMLA applies to an employer with 50 or more employees within a 75-mile radius; an employee is eligible if they have worked at least 1,250 hours over the past 12 months. Under the Washington State Family Leave Act (FLA), she is entitled to time off for any disability due to pregnancy and childbirth, which includes the post-partum recovery period determined by her healthcare provider, in addition to the 12 weeks of leave under the state FLA or federal FMLA. If she has not worked long enough to qualify for the FMLA but works for an employer with 8 or more employees, she is still entitled to pregnancy disability leave under the Human Rights Commission until she is released to return to work by her health care provider. See Family Leave Act - Frequently Asked Questions.

Download and print these helpful documents:
Family Leave Act - Frequently Asked Questions (122 KB PDF).
Table of Family Care and Family Leave Laws (102 KB PDF) - Provides a comparison of state and federal laws regarding leave for pregnancy and other family care issues.
Get a list of workplace posters required and recommended by not only L&I but other state of Washington or federal agencies as well. (F101-054-000)

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