- Benefit programs
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At the University of Washington Tacoma’s William W. Philip Hall this week, Gov. Jay Inslee and Employment Security Department Commissioner Cami Feek unveiled a major milestone for Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program.
Gov. Inslee and Commissioner Cami Feek celebrate the milestone of 1 million applications.
Leading up to and throughout the celebration, we heard from happy customers — everyday Washington citizens grateful for paid time off work when they needed it most.
Washington workers are eligible for the program if they:
- Have a serious health condition prevents them from working.
- Need time to care for a family member.
- Need time to bond with a new child.
- Want to spend time with a family member preparing for military service overseas.
Washington’s Paid Family & Medical Leave program has enjoyed huge popularity since it first began five years ago. In the very first month, more than 25,000 submitted claims, clearly reflecting the tremendous need for this resource.
Now in 2024, the number of Washingtonians approved for the Paid Leave program would fill up the Seahawks stadium an amazing 14 times, said Feek as she took the stage. In the smaller but still cavernous Tacoma Dome, they would pack it 48 times, she said.
“We’re here to celebrate that today,” Feek said. “This program shows our state’s investment in Washington’s working families and individuals — and that’s a tribute to Gov. Jay Inslee and his legacy.”
Gov. Inslee welcomes Rosie to the party. Rosie’s family was among the first to receive paid leave benefits when she was born in January 2020. Photo by Jim Kopriva of the Governor’s Office.
Feek thanked key supporters, stakeholders and people who helped make the Paid Family & Medical Leave program a success, including:
- Gov. Inslee.
- First Lady Trudi Inslee.
- Sen. Karen Keiser, who sponsored Senate Bill 5975, which led to the program’s creation.
- State and local lawmakers.
- The Paid Leave Advisory Committee — a group representing employers and employees.
- Employment Security Department staff.
- UW Tacoma Chancellor Dr. Sheila Edwards.
Paid Leave Advisory Committee members gather after the celebration for one last meeting with Bob Battles (center) longtime committee member and original negotiator for Washington’s paid leave law. Battles recently left the committee for a new job opportunity. From left are Joe Kendo, Washington State Labor Council; Samantha Grad, Teamsters 117; Bob Battles, Association of Washington Business; Cami Feek, ESD commissioner; Edsonya Charles, Paid Leave Ombuds; Rose Gunderson, Washington Retail Association; Gabriela Quintana, Economic Opportunity Institute; and Maggie Humphreys, MomsRising.
Coming together to lead the way
Washington has led the way on many fronts, Feek said. “We were the first in the nation to stand up a paid leave program without already having a temporary disability program. The first in the nation to have progressive wage replacement, which means lower income workers get more of their benefits replaced. The first to have an advisory committee. The first to require community outreach, to be connected to community to ensure it gets in the hands of people who need it most.”
Washington has led the way on many fronts, Feek said. “We were the first in the nation to stand up a paid leave program without already having a temporary disability program. The first in the nation to have progressive wage replacement, which means lower income workers get more of their benefits replaced. The first to have an advisory committee. The first to require community outreach, to be connected to community to ensure it gets in the hands of people who need it most.”
Gov. Jay Inslee began his remarks with a timely reference to the rewards of staying dedicated to delivering excellence.
“By the powers not quite vested in me by the Olympic Games Committee, I am awarding the
gold medal in paid family and medical leave to Washington state’s Paid Leave program. It is a perfect 10.
“This program is an investment in families but also an investment in businesses,” Gov. Inslee said. “It has been a smashing success … because [employers] have come to conclude that this program provides better employees for their robust businesses. [Employees] are healthier, they are happier, they are confident and they want to stay in the state of Washington. This is really good for business.”
After Inslee spoke, Washington state Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33rd Legislative District) addressed the crowd. Keiser was an early proponent of establishing a paid family and medical leave plan in Washington. She was an original sponsor of Senate Bill 5975, which established the program.
While sharing how the bill finally passed, Sen. Keiser said, “One of the pieces of the puzzle was making sure low-income workers would get an opportunity to use this program. For low-income workers, they’re on the cusp every time something happens. And so we replaced 90% of the wage for low-income workers.”
Maggie Humphreys, senior director, Washington state MomsRising, and member of the Paid Medical & Family Leave Advisory Committee also spoke.
“We asked hard questions. We gave hard answers. And we had really difficult conversations about what compromise would look like. And in the end, we did something that many thought was impossible. We passed a world class paid family and medical leave system out of a republican controlled senate and a democratic controlled house.”
Big impact, not just big numbers
Several speakers shared personal stories about the program’s impact. First up was Kisha-Marie Schnereger, an Orting resident who has two children. Her children were born in 2018 — before the Paid Leave program — and in 2022, after the program. She said she made use of the program with her youngest.
“I was really able to listen to my body and I was able to spend extremely precious time bonding with my daughter,” Schnereger said. “Seeing my son become a big brother; core memories that I will take with me until I take my last breath. And I was able to do this while still being able to contribute to my family’s finances and overall well-being.
“I know many parents and caregivers with stories similar to mine,” she continued. “So whether it be welcoming a new child or caring for a seriously ill loved one, this state’s Paid Family Medical Leave program has had a tremendous, tremendous positive effect on working families’ physical and mental health, and their financial security.”
Linda Hammond, customer benefits specialist from the Paid Family & Medical Leave program, spoke about how precious it is to be there for those “who are reaching out during their hardest times and darkest days. “Sometimes they don’t really know what to do next or where to go for answers,” Hammond said.
“Our team ensures that they know their options, they know how the program works and what they need to do next to use the benefits. I’m inspired and motivated by bringing hope and light to their stressful situations.”
Watch a video of the event on the TVW website.
See photos on the ESD Flickr website by Governor’s Office photographer Jim Kopriva.