Advisory Committee Meeting December 13, 2018 1 P RESENTATION O - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Advisory Committee Meeting December 13, 2018

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

Approve November Meeting Minutes Approve November Meeting Minutes Technology Update Technology Update Operations Update Operations Update Introductions Introductions

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Open Comment Open Comment Policy Discussion Policy Discussion

INTRODUCTIONS

►Advisory committee ►In-person attendees (Note: We will use the conference call feature to identify who is on the phone rather than announce during meeting)

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APPROVE NOVEMBER MINUTES

►Discussion

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POLICY DISCUSSION

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►Introduce Brittany McVicar ►Elected officials- Are elected officials covered by PFML?

WHO IS INCLUDED IN PFML?

►Almost all Washington employers and employees are required to participate in Paid Family and Medical Leave. ►Exceptions

►The federal government and its employees - RCW 50A.04.010(6)(b) ►Federally-recognized tribes and their employees - RCW 50A.04.110 ►Self-employed individuals - RCW 50A.04.010(7)(b)(i)

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WHO IS CONSIDERED AN EMPLOYEE?

►Key questions:

►Is the person in employment?

►“Employment” means “personal service, of whatever nature, unlimited by the relationship of master and servant as known to the common law or any other legal relationship performed for wages...” [RCW 50A.04.010(7)(a)]

►“Wages” does not include payments made to cover costs, such as travel or meal stipends.

►If yes, is the person in the employment of an employer?

►“Employer” means: “…(ii) the state, state institutions, and state agencies; and (iii) any unit of local government including, but not limited to, a county, city, town, municipal corporation, quasi-municipal corporation, or political subdivision.” [RCW 50A.04.010(6)(a)]

►If the answer to both of these questions is yes, the person is considered an employee.

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ELECTED OFFICIALS – PAID

►Is a paid elected official in employment?

►Yes. The official is performing services in exchange for wages.

►Is a paid elected official in the employment of an employer?

►Yes. The relevant government entity is the employer.

►Result: Paid elected officials are required to participate.

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ELECTED OFFICIALS – UNPAID

►Is an unpaid elected official in employment?

►No. Since no wages are paid, the official is not considered in employment for the purposes of PFML.

►Result: Unpaid elected officials are not required to participate.

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WHAT ABOUT UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE?

►The definitions of “employment,” “employer,” and “wage” align with Unemployment Insurance. ►Elected officials are statutorily exempt from Unemployment Insurance – RCW 50.44.040(10)(a). ►This exemption does not exist in PFML law.

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OPERATIONS UPDATE

►Call Statistics ►Other Updates ►Voluntary Plan Statistics & Best Practices

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CUSTOMER CARE CALLS BY WEEK

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50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

20-Aug 27-Aug 3-Sep 10-Sep 17-Sep 24-Sep 1-Oct 8-Oct 15-Oct 22-Oct 29-Oct 5-Nov 12-Nov 19-Nov 26-Nov 3-Dec

Number of Calls per Week

Week Beginning

Total Voluntary Plans Premiums Reporting

CUSTOMER CARE CALLS AND COMMUNICATIONS

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1st DOR List Email 2nd Email Mailer likely received

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

1-Nov 3-Nov 5-Nov 7-Nov 9-Nov 11-Nov 13-Nov 15-Nov 17-Nov 19-Nov 21-Nov 23-Nov 25-Nov 27-Nov 29-Nov 1-Dec 3-Dec 5-Dec 7-Dec

Number of Calls Handled

OTHER OPERATIONS UPDATES:

►Development of FAQs – tracking, standardize responses ►Elective Coverage

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CUSTOMER CARE TEAM

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Cohort 3 Cohort 2 Service Delivery Managers & Training Manager Cohort 1

VOLUNTARY PLANS DASHBOARD

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►Voluntary Plans Processed as of 12/7

►Family only: 6 Medical only: 27 Both: 118

Month (initial application) Initial application Completed applications, including payment Approved Average of days from completed application to approval September 2 2 1 14.0 October 22 22 13 17.8 November 100 70 16 13.0 December (to 12/7) 27 5

• Total

151 99 30 15.1

VOLUNTARY PLAN APPLICATION- BEST PRACTICES

• 1. Read the Voluntary Plan Guide to prepare;
• 2. Identify the gaps in existing policy from the PFML

program requirements;

• 3. Stipulate the leave entitlement specific to PFML;
• 4. Provide sufficient details for determination review;
• 5. Ensure definitions match those required under the

law.

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TECHNOLOGY UPDATE FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER

►Open Comment

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION

Carla Reyes Director, Paid Family & Medical Leave Washington State Employment Security Department (360) 485-2349 CReyes@ESD.WA.GOV

Visit us online at www.paidleave.wa.gov Join our listserv at bit.ly/PaidLeaveList Ask questions and make comments on our public forum at bit.ly/CommentForum

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