Starting October 2009, parents of newborn and newly adopted children will be able to take up to 5 weeks off work to care for their child with a weekly benefit of $250 (pro-rated for part-time workers). All new parents who have worked at least 680 hours in the previous year will be eligible. Workers in companies with more than 25 employees will also have job protection while out on family leave, if that worker has been with the employer a full year and worked at least 1,250 hours.

Washington is the second state in the nation to adopt family leave insurance for all new parents. The program not only updates Washington’s workplace standards to serve today’s families. It will also improve the health of Washington’s children, bolster foundations for early learning, enhance family financial stability, and promote business productivity.