Fourth quarter has begun, and January 1 of 2019 will be here before we know it. In 2017, the Washington State legislator passed the Family Leave Act (FLA) which provides up to 12 weeks (18 weeks in some limited circumstances) of paid family and medical leave in a 12-month period for eligible employees beginning in 2020. Eligible employees are those that have been employed by the employer for 12 months (which do not need to be consecutive months) and work a minimum of 820 hours in a qualifying period prior to the leave. The FLA will be monitored and administered by the Employment Security Department.