Washington Expands Paid Sick Leave

The state of Washington has enacted legislation (House Bill 1875), which amends its paid sick leave law to allow employees and transportation network company drivers to use paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in a judicial or administrative immigration proceeding. House Bill 1875 takes effect on July 27, 2025.

The details

As background, the state of Washington requires employers to provide at least 40 hours of paid sick leave to covered employees.

House Bill 1875 expands the covered reasons an employee or transportation network company driver may use paid sick leave to include preparing for or participating in a judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee, driver or their family member.

Nondiscrimination

The law prohibits employers from:

• Discriminating or retaliating against a covered worker for exercising their rights under the law, including using paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in a judicial or administrative immigration proceeding; or
• Counting a covered worker’s use of paid sick leave for covered immigration proceeding purposes as an absence that could result in disciplinary action.

Documentation Requirements

Under House Bill 1875, a covered worker may provide the following for the purpose of verifying an immigration proceeding:

• A written statement from the covered worker
• Documentation from the following:

Note: The verification documentation or written statement must not disclose personally identifiable information about the individual’s immigration status or immigration protection. 

Next steps

Covered employers should review and update their paid sick leave policies and procedures and train supervisors on the law by July 27, 2025.