(1) The employer determines the amount of leave, if any, which an employee may receive under these rules. However, an employee must not receive more than five hundred twenty-two days of shared leave during total state employment. An employer may authorize leave in excess of five hundred twenty-two days in extraordinary circumstances for an employee qualifying for shared leave because they are suffering from an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition which is of an extraordinary or severe nature. A nonpermanent employee who is eligible to use accrued leave or personal holiday may not use shared leave beyond the expected end date of the appointment. Leave used under the sick leave pool program, as described in WAC 357-31-570, is included in the five hundred twenty-two day limit.

(2) An employee receiving shared leave for parental leave in accordance with WAC 357-31-395 may receive up to sixteen weeks immediately after the birth or placement unless the birth parent suffers from a pregnancy disability. When a birth parent suffers from a pregnancy disability the period of sixteen weeks for parental leave begins immediately after the pregnancy disability has ended provided the parental leave is used within the first year of the child's life.

(3) An employee receiving industrial insurance wage replacement benefits may receive up to twenty-five percent of their base salary from the receipt of shared leave.

(4) Employers are encouraged to consider other methods of accommodating the employee's needs such as modified duty, modified hours, flex-time, or special assignments in place of shared leave.