Washington recently passed a bill allowing the use of paid sick leave to prepare for or participate in certain immigration proceedings.
Employees will be allowed to use sick leave to prepare for, or participate in, any judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee or employee’s family member.
For purposes of fulfilling a request for verification for leave taken for this purpose, an employee may submit, and the employer must accept:
- Documentation that the employee or the employee’s family member is involved in a qualifying immigration proceeding from any of the following persons from whom the employee or employee’s family member sought assistance in addressing the proceeding: An advocate for immigrants or refugees, an attorney, a member of the clergy, or other professional; or
- An employee’s written statement that the employee or the employee’s family member is involved in a qualifying immigration proceeding and that the leave taken was for one a qualifying reason.
The documentation or written statement must not disclose any personally identifiable information about a person’s immigration status or underlying immigration protection.
The amended law is effective July 27, 2025.
