New Year, new care

This year has been difficult, and if Washington’s paid leave program had taken effect sooner, it would have helped tremendously. I was in pain for months with a serious back injury but couldn’t take time off because I needed to save it all for my surgery and recovery. Even using paid vacation time too, I had to come back before I should have because I didn’t have more leave. I learned things I never wanted to know about my threshold for pain.

All that is changing, though. Beginning Jan. 2, working people here will qualify for up to 16 weeks of combined paid family and medical leave each year to bond with a new child, care for a seriously ill family member, or recover from serious illness. Those who accrued 820 hours the previous year will be eligible for paid leave, including low-income workers.

It’s about time. When you can’t take leave you need, you can’t be your most productive, live your best life, or be the best family member you can be. We’ll all be better off with this new paid leave program!

Heather Wallace

Spokane