What is Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time?

Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time (PSST) is a law that requires employers to provide paid leave to their employees that can be used for medical reasons or domestic assault situations. The law was originally passed in 2012 and has changed to include different types of workers and uses. Seattle PSST is available to any employee who works in Seattle, Washington and does not already receive a paid time off benefit from their employer.

How can I use Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time?

Workers can use their Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time for medical or assault related reasons, including:

Illness
Doctor’s appointments
Medical treatments or procedures
Caring for a sick family member or taking a family member to a doctor’s appointment or medical procedure
Care for a child when their school or daycare is closed
Domestic assault, sexual abuse, or stalking situations

You do NOT have to provide a doctor’s note of any kind. If your employer is requiring it, contact an employment attorney.

Paid Sick and Safe Time Accrual

Employees begin accruing PSST from their first day of work. The amount of PSST you earn depends on how many hours you work per week and the number of employees in your company. In general, employees accrue 1 hour of PSST for every 40 hours worked if there are less than 250 employees.

Where can I find my PSST balance?

Your PSST balance should be noted on your paystub. If it’s not, you may need to get in touch with your HR department to find out how much you have. Employers may add a 90-day waiting period before you can use your accrued PSST, but it should accrue from the first day you start working.

One exception to the PSST Ordinance: If your employer provides employees with a better PTO plan than the Seattle Paid Sick and Safe Time, you will not see it listed on your paystub. For example, if your employer gives you 3.33 hours of paid time off every two-week pay period, then you won’t have Seattle PSST.

PSST Violations

There are several ways employers violate the law when it comes to paid time off. If you are experiencing any of the following issues with your PSST, we suggest you contact an employment attorney today:

Balance isn’t available on your paystub or your boss/HR isn’t able to provide it
Refusing to allow you to use your PSST
Demanding proof (doctor’s note, school closure notice, etc.) to validate your need to use it
Retaliating against you for using your PSST or asserting you right to use it

A skilled employment attorney can assess whether your worker rights are being violated and determine a course of action. Every employee deserves to take time off when they or a family member is sick without worrying about their pay or whether they’ll get fired.

Here at Emery Reddy, our employment attorneys have a proven track record of holding bad bosses accountable and won millions of dollars in settlements and lawsuits. Everything you disclose to us when you call is protected by attorney client privilege, it is entirely confidential, and your employer will never be notified that you called us. Contact us today and see how the Emery Reddy employment attorneys can help you.