Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time
Starting September 1, 2012, employers are required to provide paid sick and safe time to their employees who work within Seattle city limits.
Employees are eligible for paid sick and safe time if work is performed on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis, including employees who occasionally work in Seattle for more than 240 hours per calendar year.
Paid sick and safe time may be used for:
- Illness, injury or health condition or for preventative care for an employee or an employee’s partner or family members.
- Reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
- School or workplace closure by a public official to limit health hazards.
Paid Sick and Safe Time Ordinance: SMC 14.16
| General Information | Small Employer | Medium Employer | Large Employer |
| Full-time equivalent employees | More than 4 to 49 employees | More than 49 to 249 employees | 250 or more employees |
| Accrual of paid sick and safe time | 1 hour for every 40 hours worked | 1 hour for every 40 hours worked | 1 hour for every 30 hours worked |
| Use of paid sick and safe time | 40 hours per calendar year | 56 hours per calendar year | 72 hours per calendar year |
| Carryover of unused paid sick and safe time | 40 hours per calendar year | 56 hours per calendar year | 72 hours per calendar year |
Employers must notify employees of available paid sick and safe time each time wages are paid.
Who’s Covered >>>>
The City of Seattle requires employers to provide paid sick and safe time to their employees. It applies to all employers with more than four “Full-time equivalent employees” (FTEs). An employer’s specific obligations depend on the number of full-time equivalent employees.
Employees are covered if they perform full-time, part-time or temporary work within Seattle city limits.
Employees who occasionally work in Seattle are covered if they perform more than 240 hours of work in Seattle within a calendar year.
Accrual >>>>
Current employees will begin to accrue paid sick/safe time on September 1, 2012. Accrual rates will not apply to hours worked before that date. New employees hired on or after September 1, 2012 will begin to accrue time from the start-date of employment.
Usage>>>>
Use of paid sick and safe time may include:
- An employee’s mental or physical illness, injury or health condition;
- An employee’s need to care for a family member with an illness, injury or medical appointment.
- An employee’s place of business has been closed by order of a public official to limit exposure to an infectious agent, biological toxin or hazardous substance.
- For reasons related to domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
Carryover>>>>
Unused sick and safe time is carried over to the next calendar year. The number of hours depends on the employer’s size.
Record Keeping>>>>
Employers are not required to change their record keeping policies, as long as those records reasonably indicate:
- Hours worked by employee
- Accrued paid sick and safe time.
- Paid sick and safe time taken by employees.
Notification>>>>
Employers may choose a reasonable system for providing this information, such as on each paystub or an online system that allows employees to access their information.
For more information please visit:
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