As a self-employed individual, you're your own boss, which means you are fully responsible for your time and how you choose to use it. Wanna go for a hike on a ridiculously sunny Wednesday afternoon in June? Heck yeah, go for it.

But what happens if you were to get carried away looking at the views, miss a step, and whoops now you’re in the hospital, need surgery, and expect a rough recovery ahead that will most definitely impact your ability to work. Oof. Since you bravely gave up a corporate safety net with cushy benefits, I don’t need to remind you that being out of commission for a bit could impact your bottom line. 

But there is good news! Washington state is among a handful of states that provides a paid family & medical leave program (PFML) which self-employed residents can “opt-in” to and receive benefits.