Starting July 27, 2025, state of Washington employees may tap their accrued paid sick leave (PSL) to prepare for or participate in any immigration-related court or agency proceeding for themselves or a family member.¹ The expansion, created by House Bill 1875, slots immigration matters alongside illness, family care, school closures, and domestic-violence leave as statutory PSL uses.²
Key Details
- Effective date: July 27, 2025 (90 days after session adjournment).¹
- Who’s covered: All Washington employers already subject to the state PSL law.
- Accrual stays the same: 1 hour of PSL for every 40 hours worked; no tip credit.³
- Verification option: For absences > 3 consecutive days, you may request proof. Acceptable documents include a letter from an immigration-rights advocate, attorney, clergy member, or the employee’s own written statement attesting to the proceeding.⁴
- Retaliation still prohibited: Denying or discouraging lawful PSL use can trigger L&I enforcement.³
Action Items for HR & Payroll
- Update written leave policies and employee handbooks to list “immigration proceedings” as an approved reason.
- Refresh onboarding and PTO notices Washington requires you to give new hires written PSL details.
- Post or upload the latest L&I PSL poster if you rely on digital notices.
Official Resources
- New law text – HB 1875 (Washington Legislature bill summary & status)
https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1875¹ - Washington Dept. of Labor & Industries – Paid Sick Leave hub (rules, posters, FAQs)
https://www.lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave/³
Disclaimer: The information contained herein is not intended to be construed as legal advice, nor should it be relied on as such. Employers should closely monitor the rules and regulations specific to their jurisdiction(s) and should seek advice from counsel relative to their rights and responsibilities. This post gives Washington employers a high-level compliance snapshot and is not legal advice. Consult counsel or Washington state L&I for situation-specific questions.
¹ (app.leg.wa.gov)
² (littler.com)
³ (lni.wa.gov)
⁴ (vigilant.org)