Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave: Employer FAQ
Washington’s statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave insurance program, which launched in 2019, aims to provide wage replacement and job protection to employees who need time off for family or medical reasons. This program is funded through payroll contributions made by both employers and employees.
Key Information about the Paid Family and Medical Leave Program
- Employers are required to submit quarterly reports including employee wages, hours worked, and related data.
- Premiums are set at 0.6% of gross wages up to the Social Security wage cap of $147,000.
- Premium collections began in January 2019, with leave benefit claims starting in 2020.
- Eligible workers may take up to 12 weeks of leave, with up to 18 weeks allowed for certain exceptional situations.
- Companies with fewer than 50 employees don’t need to pay the employer share of premiums but must withhold and remit the employee share and comply with reporting rules.
Will Beyond handle reporting and payment of both employee and employer contributions to the state?
Yes, Beyond will withhold and deposit both employee and employer premium amounts and file all required reports with the state authorities.
Does Beyond automatically calculate the employer contribution?
No, employers must actively opt-in for the employer portion to be calculated. To enable this, go to the “Settings” menu, select “Payroll Taxes,” then scroll down to the “Washington State Paid Family Leave and Medical Insurance Setup” section and check the box labeled “Employer Required.”
Where will I see the deductions in Beyond?
Once opted in, the deductions will appear on the payroll register and employee pay stubs. The employee deduction is labeled as “FLI Withholding-WA,” while the employer contribution will show as “Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave – Employer.”
How do I exempt an employee who is not required to pay the employee portion?
Navigate to “Workers,” select the employee’s name, then go to the “Withholdings” section in their profile. Under “State Withholding,” find “Employee Paid Family Leave and Medical Insurance Exempt” and set it to “True.”
For additional information about the program, please reach out to the Washington state customer care team:
Email: paidleave@esd.wa.gov
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You can submit a support request at any time for assistance with tax matters, technical questions, or other payroll support. This is the fastest and most secure way to get help from Beyond.