Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act)

Covered employers (see definition below) are now required to provide their employees with paid sick leave, expanded family or medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.

This newly established Act will remain in effect until December 31, 2020.

In general, covered employers must provide the following:

Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave if the employee is quarantined, experiencing symptoms of coronavirus and seeking a medical diagnosis. 

OR

Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee has a bona fide need to care for a quarantined individual, or a child under 18 whose school or day care facility has been closed as result of COVID-19, or other specified reasons.

Up to an additional 10 paid weeks of of expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay, if the employee has been employed for at least 30 days, to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed due to  COVID-19.

Covered Employers

Employers of Health Care Providers or Emergency Responders may elect to exclude such employees from eligibility for the leave provided under the Act.

The paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave provisions of the apply to certain public employers, and private employers with fewer than 500 employees.

Most employees of the federal government are covered by Title II of the Family and Medical Leave Act, which was not amended by this Act.

Small businesses with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for exemption from the requirement to provide leave due to school closings or child care unavailability if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern.

See The Department of Labor for additional details.