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  • Kathy McCorry, CEO

Paid Medical Leave - From the Desk of your Chamber CEO


The Greater Issaquah Chamber wants to ensure your business is prepared for an important change regarding Paid Family Medical Leave that goes into effect on January 1st, 2019. We want to make sure that all businesses in our region have the information they need to be compliant and not fall victim to fees and penalties.

Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave Act has been in the works for years. Despite sparse media coverage, this law may be the single most important piece of legislation that will affect almost every business owner beginning on January 1, 2019.

The first of the year businesses in the State of Washington will need to start collecting Paid Medical Leave premiums. Certain size businesses will need to pay some portion of the premiums. Others (even small businesses) will still need to deduct the premiums from your employees checks and pay the premiums as well as file quarterly reports. As far as we know only tribes and sole proprietors will be exempt – all though they may want to opt in anyway.

To learn more download the Paid Leave Employer Tool Kit. More information can also be found on the state's Paid Family and Medical Leave Website.

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