September 19, 2017
On July 10, 2017, Gov. Ige signed HB 213 into law. The new law expands the state’s existing family leave law. As background, employers who have 100 or more employees working in Hawaii must provide up to four weeks of unpaid leave in a 12-month period to eligible employees. Employees are eligible if they have worked for the employer for at least six months and have a qualifying reason.
Qualifying reasons include birth, adoption and to care for a family member (employee’s child, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary or parent) with a serious health condition. The new law adds a sibling to the list of family members for whom the employee may take leave. Additionally, the death of the employee’s child, spouse, reciprocal beneficiary, parent or spouse has been added as the fourth qualifying reason for leave.
The employer may require certification, such as a statement from a health care provider when leave is to care for a seriously ill family member or a death certificate following the death of a family member. The law was effective July 10, 2017.
HB 213 »