TACOMA, Wash. — Gov. Jay Inslee and representatives from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) gathered in Tacoma on Wednesday to celebrate five years of the state’s Paid Family & Medical Leave (FMLA) program.
ESD Security Commissioner Cami Feek revealed that in its first five years, the program has officially received 1 million applications, helped 512,000 Washingtonians and dispersed $5 billion in benefits.
Washington state was the first in the nation to prop up a paid family and medical leave program that did not already have an existing temporary disability program in place. In a speech on Wednesday, Inslee called the state’s FMLA benefits the most robust in the nation, highlighting how Washington’s program is a blueprint for other states.
“This program is the one that has made the most difference in people’s lives in my 12 years as governor,” Inslee said.
An audience also heard from state Sen. Karen Keiser, who was instrumental in getting the state’s FMLA program through the legislature. A key point on which she and her legislative partners would not deviate was coverage for low-income workers. The program replaces 90% of low-income wages – a higher benefit than for other applicants with more job and financial security.
Kisha-Marie Schnereger, a mother of two and employee of the nonprofit MomsRising, recounted her own experience using FMLA and how it made an impact on her family. After the birth of her first child, she was forced to go back to work after only three-and-a-half weeks. When her daughter was born around three years later, she was able to take family leave to spend more time with her children.
“This program has made a world of difference for my family,” Schnereger said.
“I was able to spend extremely precious time bonding with my daughter, seeing my son become a big brother – memories that I will take with me until I take my last breath,” she continued. “And I was able to do this while contributing to my family’s finances.”