Seattle paid sick leave
Local ordinance, in effect since September 1, 2012
Tier 1 (1-49 FTEs) and Tier 2 (50-249 FTEs): 1 hour per 40 hours worked. Tier 3 (250+ FTEs): 1 hour per 30.
All employers with employees working in Seattle (tiered by worldwide FTEs) in Seattle must provide paid sick leave. Tier 1 (1-49 FTEs) accrues at the state rate of 1 hour per 40. Washington's state law also applies; employers follow whichever rule is more generous to the employee.
| Seattle | Washington | |
|---|---|---|
| Accrual | Tier 1 (1-49 FTEs) and Tier 2 (50-249 FTEs): 1 hour per 40 hours worked. Tier 3 (250+ FTEs): 1 hour per 30. | 1 hour for every 40 hours worked |
| Annual cap | — Yearly carryover caps by tier: 40, 56 or 72 hours (108 for Tier 3 employers with PTO). | — |
| Who must provide it | All employers with employees working in Seattle (tiered by worldwide FTEs) | All employers |
| Carryover | Tier 1: 40 hours. Tier 2: 56. Tier 3: 72 (108 with a PTO policy). | Unused balances of 40 hours or less must carry over. |
Details and exceptions
- Amended January 14, 2018 to match Washington Initiative 1433.
- New Tier 2 employers have a two-year exemption (not successor employers).
Law: Seattle Municipal Code ch. 14.16 (Paid Sick and Safe Time)
Running payroll in Seattle, Washington?
Recent changes
Last verified against the official source on October 9, 2026.
No changes recorded since we started tracking this page.
Sources
- City of Seattle Office of Labor Standards · data as of October 8, 2026 · last checked October 9, 2026
We copy figures from official sources and re-check them against the source before every update. See our methodology. This is general information, not legal advice.