The Department of Labor issued guidelines explaining paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which goes into effect April 1, 2020.
The act provides relief for businesses with less than 500 employees. It covers up to 80 hours or two-thirds the employee’s regular pay based on guidelines outlined in the act. Some of the qualified reasons for leave during COVID-19 are:
The employee is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19.
The employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19.
The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
The employee is caring for an individual who is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19 or has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19.
The employee is caring for a son or daughter of such employee if the school or place of care of the son or daughter has been closed, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable, due to COVID–19 precautions.
The employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor.
There are other variables under the FFCRA. The overall goal of the act is to ensure workers’ and businesses’ compensation, while practicing public health safety in hopes of flattening the curve during this pandemic.
Click here to learn the key takeaways of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act from the US Department of Labor.
