--- title: "Washington Paid Sick Leave Law: 1 Hour per 40 Hours Worked" description: "Washington paid sick leave: 1 hour per 40 worked, No yearly cap a year, day 90 for new hires, carryover and covered uses, from official pages." url: "https://mcc-solutionsnj.com/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-washington" --- Paid sick leave · Washington # Washington paid sick leave How employees earn sick time under Paid sick leave (RCW 49.46.210), the yearly limit, when new hires can use it and what it covers, with a dated example. [![Intuit ProAdvisor Gold tier badge](/img/credentials/intuit-proadvisor-gold.png)](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77)Gold tier in Intuit's ProAdvisor program. [See my Intuit listing](https://proadvisor.intuit.com/app/accountant/search?searchId=matthew-coleman77) Keeping your own books? Tallyfinch does invoices, bank import and reports on your computer. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) **Short answer.** At least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. No cap on hours accrued within the accrual year. Use may begin: employees may use accrued leave once they reach 90 calendar days of employment. ## At a glance Law Paid sick leave (RCW 49.46.210) In effect Employees began earning paid sick leave on January 1, 2018. Accrual At least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Yearly limit No cap on hours accrued within the accrual year. Use may begin Employees may use accrued leave once they reach 90 calendar days of employment. Agency Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) ## Example with dates Suppose someone at an employer in the "any number of employees" group starts on Monday, January 25, 2027 and works 35 hours every week. At 1 hour per 40 hours worked, that's 0.87 hours a week, and the first year comes to 45.50 hours. The latest an employer could hold off use is Saturday, April 24, 2027. Hiring in another state? [Employer registration in Washington, done for you](/bookkeeping/out-of-state-employer-registration), or [a free bookkeeping health check](/bookkeeping/health-check). - By Sunday, April 25, 2027: 10.50 hours - By Sunday, July 25, 2027: 21.87 hours - By Tuesday, January 25, 2028: 45.50 hours Your own figures: [open the calculator set to Washington](/bookkeeping/sick-leave-accrual-calculator?state=wa). ## What the time covers The employee's or a family member's care (child, grandchild, grandparent, parent, sibling or spouse, and some household members), leave that qualifies under the state's Domestic Violence Leave Act, closures by a public official for a health-related reason, and preparing for or attending an immigration proceeding (since July 27, 2025). ## Unused hours at year end Unused balances of 40 hours or less must carry over to the next accrual year. ## Front-loading instead of accrual Allowed but not required (WAC 296-128-730): the employer needs a written policy or union contract, must use a reasonable calculation consistent with the accrual rule, and may not deduct front-loaded leave from final wages. ## Smaller employers and who is covered No employer-size threshold: L&I's paid sick leave policy says all employers in Washington with covered workers must provide paid sick leave regardless of the employer's business size. ## Notices, posters and statements Employers must notify employees of the right in writing, and give a statement at least monthly showing hours accrued, used and available. ## City and county rules Yes, local paid sick leave ordinances apply in parts of the state; an employer there follows whichever rule gives employees more. The official page: [Paid Sick Leave Minimum Requirements (local laws note)](https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave/paid-sick-leave-minimum-requirements). ## Worth knowing Where a local law requires more generous paid sick leave, the local requirement applies; L&I names Seattle as an example. Covers full-time, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees; a few groups such as certain salaried executives are exempt. ## Official sources - [Paid Sick Leave Minimum Requirements (Washington L&I)](https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave/paid-sick-leave-minimum-requirements) (checked November 2026) - [Paid Sick Leave (Washington L&I)](https://lni.wa.gov/PaidSickLeave) (checked November 2026) - [WAC 296-128-730, Frontloading (Washington State Legislature)](https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/Law/WACArchive/2024/pdf/WAC%20296%20-128%20%20CHAPTER/WAC%20296%20-128%20-730.pdf) (checked November 2026) - [Washington L&I Administrative Policy ES.B.1: Paid Sick Leave Frequently Asked Questions (revised February 4, 2026)](https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/_docs/esb1.pdf) (checked November 2026) Rules as published on the pages above, checked November 2026. General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. A city ordinance, union contract or written policy can give employees more. ## Questions employers ask **How much paid sick leave do employees earn in Washington?** At least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. No cap on hours accrued within the accrual year. **When can a new employee start using sick leave in Washington?** Employees may use accrued leave once they reach 90 calendar days of employment. **Does unused sick time carry over to the next year in Washington?** Unused balances of 40 hours or less must carry over to the next accrual year. **Can a Washington employer front-load sick leave instead of tracking accrual?** Allowed but not required (WAC 296-128-730): the employer needs a written policy or union contract, must use a reasonable calculation consistent with the accrual rule, and may not deduct front-loaded leave from final wages. **Do small employers in Washington have to provide it?** No employer-size threshold: L&I's paid sick leave policy says all employers in Washington with covered workers must provide paid sick leave regardless of the employer's business size. **What can Washington sick leave be used for?** The employee's or a family member's care (child, grandchild, grandparent, parent, sibling or spouse, and some household members), leave that qualifies under the state's Domestic Violence Leave Act, closures by a public official for a health-related reason, and preparing for or attending an immigration proceeding (since July 27, 2025). All states: [paid sick leave laws by state](/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-laws-by-state) · [New York](/bookkeeping/paid-sick-leave-new-york) Tallyfinch ### Books you keep on your own computer Tallyfinch does invoices, bills, bank import, reconciliation and the main reports, in a file you own. $99 once, then $5 a month for updates; the app keeps working if you stop the plan. It does not do payroll or sales tax filing. The free download records up to 60 entries. [See Tallyfinch](/bookkeeping/mcc-books-downloadable-bookkeeping-software) [Download it free](/tools/pro/trial/mccBooks) [Compare the three apps](/software) ## Want payroll and leave tracked for you? [See bookkeeping services](/bookkeeping/)[Call (908) 444-6373](tel:+19084446373)