Learn more about the benefits for residents of Washington State. Here are three main takeaways your organization should pay attention to:

• 2 weeks of paid sick leave for full-time or part-time employees (taking the average hours of a two-week period) due to quarantine orders or if you are  experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or are caring for a family member (or child) whose school or place of care is closed due to the pandemic.
• 12 weeks of job-protected leave to care for a child whose school or place of care is closed due to COVID-19 at 2/3 pay.
• A maximum of 12 combined weeks of the above for any individual employee.

The paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA also apply to nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees. Nonprofits with less than 50 employees may qualify for an exemption (take a look at the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) requirements). However, consider participating to support employees juggling family responsibilities. Employers can receive up to 100% refundable payroll tax credits to subsidize these benefits. Nonprofits can apply the tax credit to payroll taxes. 

The FFCRA also provides funding for food nutrition security, coronavirus testing, and unemployment benefits. See the National Council of Nonprofits’ write-up of these additional provisions and additional information about tax credits from the IRS. Before implementing any leave program it is recommended that you check the details to ensure you can administer the program correctly and consult with an HR professional if you need help.

Do you have questions about Washington State's family leave program or FFCRA and how they can support your employees? Reach out to our HR Quick Consults service for additional guidance at $25 per 15-minute increment by sending an email to hrconsults@501commons.org.