The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), enacted as part of the national response to COVID-19, requires employers to allow employees expanded family and medical leave for reasons related to the coronavirus.
The new law temporarily expands the reach of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which applies to all private employers with at least 50 employees who worked at least 20 weeks during the current or prior calendar year. Employees seeking FMLA leave generally must have worked at least 1,250 hours during the prior year.
The FFCRA includes the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, under which private employers with up to 500 employees and certain public employers must provide the following though December 31, 2020:
Every employee, regardless of tenure, is eligible for two weeks of paid sick time for COVID-19 reasons. In addition, employees who have been with the company for at least 30 days are eligible for the additional 10 weeks of paid leave. Public health emergency leave is available only to those affected by the coronavirus.
Certain employers with under 50 employees may be exempt from the new paid leave requirements.
The employment law attorneys at Hemmer DeFrank Wessels PLLC can advise your business on all COVID-19 paid leave provisions. Please call our Fort Mitchell office at 859-344-1188 or contact us online to schedule a virtual meeting or telephone consultation.