---
title: "Paid sick leave for servers in Washington"
description: "Washington requires at least 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 40 hours worked, whether you’re full-time, part-time, temporary, or seasonal."
url: https://www.tipmaxapp.com/us/answers/washington/paid-sick-leave
language: en
publisher: TipMax (Entermaurs Incorporated)
date_published: 2026-09-23
last_verified: 2026-09-23
---

# Do part-time servers get sick leave in Washington?

**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 rules in Washington

| Rule | What it says |
| --- | --- |
| 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, https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/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

- [Washington L&I: paid sick leave](https://lni.wa.gov/workers-rights/leave/paid-sick-leave/)

## Last verified

September 23, 2026. Checked the agency pages linked above.

## About TipMax

Washington sick hours pay at least $17.13 each, and knowing your true hourly by night of the week shows when a sick day costs you the least.

TipMax is an iPhone app for servers and bartenders that tracks tips and tip-outs and turns a restaurant menu into study flashcards.

Download TipMax free: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tipmax-study-track-earn/id6744850146

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TipMax Answers explains public government guidance on pay and workplace rules in plain English for tipped workers. It is **not legal, tax, or accounting advice**. Rules change and local rules can add to them. Confirm with the agency linked on this page or a qualified professional. TipMax the app helps you track tips and pay; it doesn’t enforce wage law or decide disputes.