Do part-time servers get sick leave in Washington?
WashingtonVerified September 23, 2026
The short answer
Yes. Washington L&I says you must earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours you work, whether you’re full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal. Your employer can give more, but not less. A server working a summer season on the patio earns it the same way a year-round bartender does.
The rule in Washington
| Minimum accrual | At least 1 hour of paid sick leave per 40 hours worked. |
|---|---|
| Who earns it | Every employee, regardless of full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal status. |
| More is allowed | Employers may provide more leave if they choose. |
“At a minimum, you must provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked by an employee, regardless of full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal status.” (Washington L&I: paid sick leave)
What’s different in Washington
Federal law is silent on sick leave. Washington sets an accrual floor that ignores your schedule type, so seasonal and temporary staff, who often fall through the cracks, bank hours from the first shift of the season.
Paid sick hours in Washington carry more weight than in a tip-credit state. There’s no tip credit here, so your hourly wage is at least $17.13 and each banked hour is paid at that full rate or more. On a slow weeknight, a paid sick hour can come close to what the floor would have paid; on a Saturday, your tips are what you give up.
Official sources
Last verified
. Checked the agency pages linked above.