For specified reasons relevant to COVID-19, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) allows some employers to offer paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave to employees. The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the Department of Labor administers and implements the paid leave requirements for new laws. These rules shall apply from the date of entry into force to 31 December 2020.
Generally, the Act provides that employees of the employers covered are eligible for:
Covered Employers
Certain public employers and private employees with less than 500 employees are entitled to the paid medical leave and extended family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA. The majority of federal government employees are covered by Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which has not been modified by this Act and hence are not covered by the extended family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA. Nevertheless, federal employees covered by Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act are covered by the sick leave provision.
Small companies with fewer than 50 staff may be eligible for exemption from the requirement to offer leave due to school closures or unavailability of child care if the conditions for leave may jeopardize the sustainability of the business as a matter of concern.
Eligible Employees:
All employees of covered employers are entitled to 2 weeks of paid sick leave for defined reasons related to COVID-19. In some conditions relating to COVID-19, employees working for at least 30 days are entitled for up to an extra 10 weeks of paid family leave to care for a child.
Qualifying Reasons for Leave:
Under the FFCRA, an employee is entitled to paid sick if he/she is unable to work due to a need for leave because of the employee:
If you want to know more about the FFRCA, contact the Best Attorney in New Haven, CT