Maternity Leave

Golf

I am a Washington employer and doing some training on FMLA and am looking for information on Pregnancy Leave. Not sure if it is for the time of the "actual disability" or if there is a set amount of time. I think in Washington the employee would get Pregnancy Leave in addition to the 12 weeks FMLA

SMace

I attached a copy of a summary of the regs that I found on the other post you replied to. What I read is that it only applies to state ee's. Maybe Mwild will chime in, I'm sure she knows.

SandiF

Well, I agree Washington State is employee friendly, but NO the employee doesn't get 24 weeks, only 12. This is one state law that gives less than the federal-12 weeks in 24 months, not 12 in 12 months.

Golf

The way I am reading it is, the employee gets the time off while disabled due to pregnancy plus 12 week FMLA. Am I reading it incorrectly?

SandiF

Well, I did some more research and found out you are correct! The law changed in 2002 to allow for this - so, you could be on bedrest for 12 weeks and then have an additional 12 weeks of FMLA. Wow, and now they want companies to pay employees while they're on leave. This state drives me nuts.


The leave allowed for disability due to pregnancy or childbirth under the state Human Rights Commission mentioned above, is in addition to FMLA leave to care for a newborn or for any other FMLA-qualifying reason. The leave for pregnancy disability is not concurrent with the FMLA leave; both are protected leave categories. See Administrative Policy ES.E.1 (pdf).

Don D

I've heard tell of 'The Californication of Washington State'. Is this what that's all about?