The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
Generally, the FFCRA provides the following coverage for eligible employees of covered employers:
- Employees may be eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay if the employee is unable to work—whether in the office or remotely—as a result of Federal, State, or local government, or health care provider ordered quarantine and/or if the employee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis; or
- Employees may be eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee work—whether in the office or remotely—because:
- The employee has a need to care for an individual subject to quarantine pursuant to Federal, State, or local government order or advice of a health care provider, or
- The employee needs to care for a child (under 18 years of age) whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19, and/or
- The employee is experiencing a “substantially similar condition” as specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of the Treasury and Labor; and
- Employees may be eligible for up to an additional ten weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay if an employee, who has been employed for at least 30 calendar days, is unable to work—whether in the office or remotely—due to a need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
If you are an eligible employee who qualifies for sick leave, you should provide notice to your employer if the leave is foreseeable, and such notice should be provided as soon as practicable.
If you have believe your employer has denied you these rights or otherwise taken wrongful actions towards you related to COVID-19, please contact us at intake@nka.com or by phone at (877) 344-4628. We remain dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of employees and consumers.
This article is meant to be informative, and is not legal advice. Please note that state, federal, and local laws and regulations will continue to evolve as this pandemic continues. If you have questions, Nichols Kaster strongly suggests you consult an attorney.