PDFWAC 357-31-130

When must an employer allow an employee to use their accrued sick leave?

The employer may require medical verification or certification of the reason for sick leave use in accordance with the employer's leave policy and in compliance with chapter 296-128 WAC.
Employers must allow the use of accrued sick leave under the following conditions:
(1) An employee's mental or physical illness, disability, injury or health condition that has incapacitated the employee from performing required duties; to accommodate the employee's need for medical diagnosis, care or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition; or an employee's need for preventive medical care.
(2) By reason of exposure of the employee to a contagious disease when the employee's presence at work would jeopardize the health of others.
(3) When a high-risk employee, as defined in RCW 49.17.062, seeks a reasonable accommodation to protect themselves from the risk of exposure to an infectious or contagious disease and the employer determines no other accommodation is reasonable besides the use of leave.
(4) To allow an employee to provide care for a child who has been exposed to a contagious disease and is required to quarantine; or when a household or family member needs additional care, not covered by subsection (6) of this section, who has been exposed to a contagious disease and is required to quarantine.
(5) When the employee's place of business has been closed by order of a public official for any health-related reason, or when an employee's child's school or place of care has been closed for such reason.
(6) To allow an employee to provide care for a family member with a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition; care of a family member who needs medical diagnosis, care or treatment of a mental or physical illness, injury or health condition; or care for a family member who needs preventive medical care.
(7) For family care emergencies per WAC 357-31-290, 357-31-295, 357-31-300 and 357-31-305.
(8) When an employee is required to be absent from work to care for members of the employee's household or relatives of the employee or relatives of the employee's spouse/registered domestic partner who experience an illness or injury, not including situations covered by subsection (6) of this section.
(a) The employer must approve up to five days of accumulated sick leave each occurrence. Employers may approve more than five days.
(b) For purposes of this subsection, "relatives" is limited to spouse, registered domestic partner, child, grandchild, grandparent or parent.
(9) When requested as a supplemental benefit while receiving a partial wage replacement for paid family and/or medical leave under Title 50A RCW as provided in WAC 357-31-248. Leave taken under this subsection may be subject to verification that the employee has been approved to receive benefits for paid family and/or medical leave under Title 50A RCW.
(10) If the employee or the employee's family member, as defined in chapter 357-01 WAC, is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking as defined in RCW 49.76.020. An employer may require the request for leave under this section be supported by verification in accordance with WAC 357-31-730.
(11) In accordance with WAC 357-31-373, for an employee to be with a spouse or registered domestic partner who is a member of the armed forces of the United States, National Guard, or reserves after the military spouse or registered domestic partner has been notified of an impending call or order to active duty, before deployment, or when the military spouse or registered domestic partner is on leave from deployment.
(12) When an employee requests to use sick leave for the purpose of parental leave to bond with a newborn, adoptive or foster child for a period up to 18 weeks. Sick leave for this purpose must be taken during the first year following the child's birth or placement.
(13) If the employee requests to use sick leave when granted a temporary leave of absence for legislative service in accordance with WAC 357-31-374(2).
[Statutory Authority: RCW 41.06.133, 41.04.120, and chapter 49.100 RCW. WSR 22-24-027, § 357-31-130, filed 11/30/22, effective 1/1/23. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. WSR 22-12-076, § 357-31-130, filed 5/27/22, effective 7/1/22; WSR 20-24-025, § 357-31-130, filed 11/20/20, effective 12/28/20. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW and RCW 50A.15.060. WSR 20-06-008, § 357-31-130, filed 2/20/20, effective 5/1/20. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW and RCW 41.06.133. WSR 19-11-135, § 357-31-130, filed 5/22/19, effective 7/1/19. Statutory Authority: Chapter 41.06 RCW. WSR 18-05-032, § 357-31-130, filed 2/10/18, effective 3/13/18; WSR 14-11-035, § 357-31-130, filed 5/14/14, effective 6/16/14; WSR 09-17-057 and 09-18-112, § 357-31-130, filed 8/13/09 and 9/2/09, effective 12/3/09; WSR 09-03-013, § 357-31-130, filed 1/9/09, effective 2/13/09; WSR 08-15-043, § 357-31-130, filed 7/11/08, effective 10/1/08; WSR 05-08-136, § 357-31-130, filed 4/6/05, effective 7/1/05.]