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Hearing divides over expanding job protections under Washington’s paid leave program
Summary
House substitute 12 13 would expand job‑restoration protections, reduce minimum claim period to four hours, and create small‑employer grants. Supporters called it a needed fix for workers who lack job protection; many business groups warned of solvency risks and added costs to small employers.
Second substitute House Bill 12 13, proposing expanded job protections and other changes to Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program, was reported to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee and drew a large and divided public record.
Committee staff Susan Jones described the bill’s core changes: lowering the minimum claim period from eight consecutive hours to four; removing the hourly threshold for employment protection and instead requiring that an employee have begun employment at least 180 days before taking leave to qualify for job protection; extending employment restoration protections to more employees regardless of employer size; and providing grants to offset small‑employer temporary replacement and health‑coverage costs. Jones also summarized the…
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