In Washington state, all employers, including nonprofit organizations, are required to provide paid sick leave to employees, but what you might not know is that paid sick leave can be used for immigration proceedings.
All employees, including part-time, temporary, and seasonal employees, have paid sick leave rights under state law that include judicial or administrative proceedings. Immigration status and documentation do not affect these protections, and using paid sick leave in this manner also extends to family members and others living in their household on a regular basis.
That said, many requirements are the same, such as accrual, carryover, and payment of sick leave. Employees who miss time from work cannot be reprimanded for an absence when they have enough paid sick leave time available to cover the absence in question, and unless that absence is longer than 3 working days, the employee is not required to provide verification unless outlined in your organization’s verification policy. If acquiring this documentation would prove to be an unreasonable burden or expense, the verification policy can be contested.
For immigration hearings, employers can accept a written statement from the employee, their legal counsel, clergy, or other professionals working with them on their case as documentation. This documentation must not include any personally identifiable information (PII) about their current immigration or documentation status or protections.
Learn more at Lni.wa.gov.
En línea: PERMISO POR ENFERMEDAD PAGADO: Una guía para empleadores de organizaciones sin fines de lucro / Paid Sick Leave: A guide for nonprofit employers
Date: October 8, 2026
Time: 11:00 am – 12:30 pm
Price: Free
En el estado de Washington, todos los empleadores, incluidas las organizaciones sin fines de lucro, deben proporcionar permiso por enfermedad pagads a sus empleados. Es posible que no sepa que sus empleados pueden utilizar estos permisos para prepararse o participar en un procedimiento judicial o administrativo de inmigración que los involucre a ellos o a un familiar.
Acompañe a Brenda Fay, del Departamento de Labor & Industries, el 8 de octubre para profundizar sus conocimientos sobre los beneficios del permiso por enfermedad pagado. Brenda Fay ha trabajado para el Estado de Washington en el Departamento de Labor e Industria (L&I) desde 2010 como especialista bilingüe de alcance en la División de Normas Laborales. Comenzó su carrera en el Programa de Compensación para Víctimas de Crimen de L&I, después administró reclamos de compensación para trabajadores lesionados y luego fue investigadora de salarios antes de asumir su función actual de especialista de alcance. Brenda educación e información en inglés y español para ayudar a empleadores y trabajadores entender las leyes de salarios y horas de trabajo del estado de Washington.
Esta clase se impartirá en Español
This presentation is provided in Spanish. In Washington state, all employers, including nonprofit organizations are required to provide paid sick leave to employees, but what you might not know is that your employees can use paid sick leave to prepare for, or participate in, a judicial or administrative immigration proceeding involving the employee or their family member.
Join Brenda Fay from Labor & Industries on October 8th to deepen your understanding of paid sick leave benefits. Brenda Fay has served with the State of Washington Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) since 2010 and currently works as a bilingual Outreach Specialist in the Employment Standards Program in the Division of Labor. She began her state career with the Crime Victims Compensation Program, later adjudicated workers’ compensation claims, and then serving as a wage investigator before moving into her current role. She provides education and outreach in both English and Spanish, helping employers and workers better understand Washington’s wage and hour laws.
In partnership with the Department of Labor & Industries Early Return to Work and Employer Incentive Program teams.