Late on March 18, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which is aimed at containing the widening effects of COVID-19. Among other things, the FFCRA creates several significant new leave and sick pay obligations for covered employers. Late on March 18, President Trump signed into law the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which is aimed at containing the widening effects of COVID-19. Among other things, the FFCRA creates several significant new leave and sick pay obligations for covered employers.

OVERVIEW

  • The FFCRA provides new employee leave benefits, including paid sick and extended family leave for employees who work for employers with fewer than 500 employees.
  • These rules will apply starting April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
  • For all employees:
  • Two weeks of paid sick time at the employee’s regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined.
  • Two weeks of paid sick time at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a need to care for an individual subject to quarantine.
  • For those employed for at least 30 days:
  • Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid family leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay when an employee is unable to work due to a need for leave to care for a child whose school is closed.
  • Requirements are not retroactive. An employer therefore cannot count paid leave given to an employee before the FFCRA takes effect.

EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE

The FFCRA creates the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act which requires employers to provide paid sick time to employees who are unable to work due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

WHICH EMPLOYERS MUST COMPLY?

Employers with fewer than 500 employees are covered. Healthcare providers and emergency responders can be excluded.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?

All full and part-time employees are eligible, regardless of how long they have been employed.

HOW MUCH LEAVE IS PROVIDED?

  • Full-time employees can take up to 2-weeks of paid leave.
    • Part-time employees can take paid leave equal to the average number of hours that the employee works over a 2-week period.

Order your free copy of the 2020 Families First Coronavirus Response Act Compliance Handbook, call (800) 651-7895, email contact@walkerhughes.com or access WalkerHughes.com.