Under state law, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or staking allows employees to take reasonable time off of work-paid or unpaid-to take care of legal or law enforcement matters and to get health care, without fear of being fired or treated adversely by their employer. That protection also extends to family members of a victim. But the City of Seattle recently passed a law which extends that protection even further.

Our Vancouver readers may be interested to know that the Seattle City Council recently approved legislation requiring companies in Seattle to offer employees paid time off to recover from sickness or care for other sick family members. The law also requires businesses to allow employees to take paid time off when they have fallen victim to domestic violence.

The new law come will be appreciated by thousands of employees in the Seattle area that don't currently have paid time off. It will also make it easier for those experiencing domestic violence to get out of dangerous living situation and seek help.

Under the new law, there are minimum standards for paid time off based on the company size. Employees working in companies having between 5 and 249 employees must be able to accrue a minimum of one hour paid time off for every 40 hours worked. Companies at and above 250 employees must give employees a minimum of one hour for every 30 hours worked.

Sources said employers are allowed, under the law to combine vacation and sick leave together. The law will take effect on September 1, 2012.

Source: Seattle Medium, "Seattle City Council Approves Paid Sick Leave Legislation," Sep 14, 2011.