Washington paid sick leave
Under the Washington Paid Sick Leave, employees accrue 1 hour per 40 hours worked, with no annual cap.
Informational, not legal advice. Checked against Congressional Research Service report R48921 and the state's own labour department. Statutes change every session — confirm against the primary source linked below before setting a policy. Last verified 18 August 2026.
The rule, in detail
| Accrual rate | 1 hour per 40 hours worked |
|---|---|
| Annual accrual cap | None |
| Annual use cap | Not specified |
| Carryover | Permitted, capped at 40 hours |
| Frontloading allowed | No |
| Waiting period before use | 90 days |
| Employer size threshold | All employers |
| Payout on termination | Not required |
| Effective from | 1 January 2018 |
Notes
DENOMINATOR IS 40, not 30, and there is NO annual accrual cap. At least 40 hours must carry over. Frontloading is restricted.
Covered reasons
- Employee illness
- Family care
- Domestic violence
- School or workplace closure
Apply this in PTODesk
Pick “Washington statutory sick leave” when creating a policy and these values are filled in for you, including the remainder carry that partial hours require.
Try for freeWhat that works out to
“1 hour per 40 hours worked” is the statute's wording. Here is the same rule as an annual number, which is what you actually need in order to budget for it or to check a balance someone is disputing.
A full-time employee · 40 hours a week
52 hours a year
2,080 hours worked ÷ 40 = 52 hours
A half-time employee · 20 hours a week
26 hours a year
1,040 hours worked ÷ 40 = 26 hours
A new full-time hire earns their first full eight-hour day of sick leave after roughly 8 weeks of work, though it cannot be used until day 90 of employment — the hours accrue during that window even though they are not yet available.
How Washington compares
Washington is an outlier on the accrual rate. Most mandate states grant one hour per 30 hours worked; here it is one per 40, which means employees earn more slowly than they would elsewhere. Copying a policy written for another state will produce the wrong balance.
| State | Accrues 1 hour per | Annual cap |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 30 hours | 56 hours |
| Arizona | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| California | 30 hours | 80 hours |
| Colorado | 30 hours | 48 hours |
| Connecticut | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| Maryland | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| Massachusetts | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| Michigan | 30 hours | 72 hours |
| Minnesota | 30 hours | 48 hours |
| Nebraska | 30 hours | 56 hours |
| New Jersey | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| New Mexico | 30 hours | 64 hours |
| New York | 30 hours | 56 hours |
| Oregon | 30 hours | 40 hours |
| Rhode Island | 35 hours | 40 hours |
| District of Columbia | 37 hours | 56 hours |
| Illinois | 40 hours | 40 hours |
| Maine | 40 hours | 40 hours |
| Washington | 40 hours | None |
| Nevada | 52 hours | 40 hours |
| Vermont | 52 hours | 40 hours |
City rules inside Washington
A local ordinance can be more generous than the state floor, and where it is, it wins for employees working in that city. Somebody who splits their week between two locations is the case that catches employers out.
- Seattle 1 hour per 30 hours worked
Common questions
How much paid sick leave do employees earn in Washington?
Employees accrue 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked. Over a full-time year that is about 52 hours; at half time it is about 26 hours.
Does unused sick leave carry over to the next year in Washington?
Yes. Unused hours roll into the following year, up to 40 hours. Carryover is separate from the annual cap, so a balance can be larger than one year of accrual.
Do employers have to pay out unused sick leave in Washington when someone leaves?
No. Unlike accrued vacation in many states, unused sick leave is generally not payable on separation here. A more generous company policy can still create the obligation, so check what your handbook promises.
When can a new hire start using sick leave in Washington?
Accrual begins on the first day of work, but use can be withheld until day 90 of employment. The distinction matters: hours are being earned during the waiting period even though they cannot yet be taken.
Does Washington sick leave apply to part-time employees?
Accrual is tied to hours worked, not to job title, so part-time employees earn at the same 40-hour rate — they simply reach the total more slowly. Someone working 20 hours a week accrues roughly 26 hours across a year.