PAID PARENTAL LEAVE

SEA-MC tit. 4, ch. 4.27

in effect

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.010 Definitions

4.27.010 - Definitions Unless another meaning is clearly indicated from the context, as used in this Chapter 4.27: "Child" means a biological, adopted, or foster child, a stepchild, a legal ward, or a child of a person standing in loco parentis, who is: 1. Under 18 years of age; or 2. 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care because of a mental or physical disability. "City" means The City of Seattle. "Eligible employee" means an individual who has completed six months of City employment as an employee, as defined in Section 4.04.030, or as a temporary worker eligible for benefits under subsection 4.20.055.C. "Reduced leave schedule" means a leave schedule that reduces the usual number of hours per workweek, or hours per workday, of an employee. "Single 12-month period" shall mean a 12-month period measured forward from the date of birth of a child, or placement of a child for adoption, foster care, or legal guardianship. "Week" shall mean 40 hours, prorated for part-time employees. (Ord. 126011, § 6, 2019; Ord. 125260, § 3, 2017; Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.020 Leave provisions

4.27.020 - Leave provisions A. Eligible employees are entitled to 12 weeks of paid leave in addition to any paid and unpaid leave to which they may otherwise be entitled during any single 12-month period for one or more of the following: 1. The birth of a child of the employee in order to care for such child. 2. The placement of a child with the employee for adoption, foster care, or legal guardianship. B. The entitlement to paid leave under subsections 4.27.020.A.1 and 4.27.020.A.2 for birth or placement of a child shall expire at the end of the 12-month period beginning on the date of such birth or placement. (Ord. 126011, § 7, 2019; Ord. 125260, § 4, 2017; Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.030 Notice

4.27.030 - Notice In any case in which the necessity for paid leave under subsection 4.27.020.A.1 or 4.27.020.A.2 is foreseeable based on an expected birth or placement, the employee shall provide the City with at least 30 days' notice, before the date of leave is to begin, of the employee's intention to take leave, except that if the date of birth or placement requires the leave to begin in less than 30 days, the employee shall provide such notice as is practicable. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.040 Leave taken intermittently or on a reduced schedule

4.27.040 - Leave taken intermittently or on a reduced schedule Leave under subsection 4.27.020.A.1 or 4.27.020.A.2 shall not be taken by an employee intermittently or on a reduced schedule unless the employee and City agree. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.050 Exhaustion of other paid leave not required

4.27.050 - Exhaustion of other paid leave not required An employee need not exhaust paid leave balances prior to requesting and taking the paid parental leave provided in this Chapter 4.27. (Ord. 126011, § 8, 2019; Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.060 Employment and benefit protection

4.27.060 - Employment and benefit protection Eligible employees who have been granted leave under this Chapter 4.27 shall be entitled to the same employment and benefit protections consistent with the protections of the City's family and medical leave benefit in Section 4.26.050 and the rules promulgated pursuant thereto. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.070 Certification requirement

4.27.070 - Certification requirement The City may require employees to submit documentation to certify their eligibility for the paid parental leave benefit. The Seattle Human Resources Director shall promulgate rules for the administration of such certification process. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.080 Failure to return to work

4.27.080 - Failure to return to work The City may recover the value of the paid parental leave from the employee if the employee fails to return to work following his or her leave of absence. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.090 Rulemaking

4.27.090 - Rulemaking The Seattle Human Resources Director is authorized and directed to promulgate rules consistent with this Chapter 4.27. (Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Seattle Mun. Code § 4.27.100 Data collection and reporting

4.27.100 - Data collection and reporting City departments, via the City's payroll system, shall track data related to employees who utilize the paid parental leave provided in this Chapter 4.27. The data should include employee gender, tenure with the city, hours of paid parental leave used, job title, and employing City department at the time the leave was used. In addition, information on the approximate backfill cost to the City, by department, should be identified. An annual report containing the information in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be submitted by the Seattle Department of Human Resources to the Mayor and City Council in the annual Workforce Equity Accountability Report. The first report is due by the end of the second quarter of 2018, and shall be submitted every year thereafter unless the Mayor and Chair of the City Council's Gender Equity, Safe Communities and New Americans committee, or its successor, agree an annual report is no longer necessary. Such agreement shall be in writing and filed with the City Clerk. (Ord. 125260, § 5, 2017; Ord. 124753, § 1, 2015.)

Source: City of Seattle, Seattle Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wa/seattle/codes/municipal_code?nodeId=TIT4PE_CH4.27PAPALEFetched: 11/1/2026