Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave program is just getting started. We are collecting information to improve the process of building reporting tools that are required by law.

Paid Family and Medical Leave is a statewide insurance program that allows employees to take time off to care for themselves or their family in times of illness or injury, to welcome a new child into their home, and for certain military-connected events. It is separate from the new sick leave law, and employers have a responsibility to report employee wages and hours worked for the purposes of this law. We recognize the important role third-party administrators play in the success of businesses statewide, including the implementation of Paid Family and Medical Leave. Your input is highly valued, and we appreciate your time.

Quick Facts:

This statewide insurance plan requires employers to report employee wages and hours worked every quarter.

Premium collection begins in 2019 and claims for leave benefits start in 2020.

Workers can take leave for qualified events for up to 12 weeks generally, and up to 18 weeks under exceptional circumstances.

Premiums are 0.4% of gross wages and shared by employees (63%) and employers (37%).

Businesses with 50 or fewer employees are not required to pay the employer portion of the premium but are required to collect and remit the employee portion of the premium.

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* 1. Will you handle the reporting/payment requirements for the employers you represent?

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* 2. What information do you need ahead of time to help you make that decision?

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* 3. Do you believe this program is a new scope of work that will require renegotiation with your clients?

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* 4. Do you think that existing representative agreements filed with ESD for Unemployment Insurance purposes should apply for Paid Family and Medical Leave purposes also?

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* 5. Do you believe the Paid Family and Medical Leave program will require significant changes to your current processes?

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* 6. If you will manage Paid Family and Medical Leave for your clients, what services will you represent them for?

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* 7. What accounting software do you use?

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* 8. Does your accounting software create forms that can be uploaded for Unemployment Insurance purposes in Washington state?

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* 9. When ESD needs to send documents regarding Paid Family and Medical Leave, should they be sent to you instead of your clients?

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* 10. If ESD needs to contact you, will there be one central contact, or will a contact be provided for each service you cover for the employer (i.e. contact for taxes, separate contact for benefits, separate contact for legal, ect.)?

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* 11. What is your preferred method of contact?

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* 12. Paid Family and Medical Leave will be primarily accessed online, and you will need to create a profile on our website to file on behalf of your clients. Would you prefer to have a profile that allows you to access all of your clients in one location or access each employer individually?

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* 13. Approximately how much time does it take you per client to report wages and remit payment?

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* 14. What information will you need to be successful?

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* 15. What can we do to help you report for the clients you represent?

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* 16. What about the reporting process for Unemployment Insurance could be improved for Paid Family and Medical Leave reporting?

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