Paid Leave During COVID-19

Over the past several weeks the federal government has passed a number of employment related laws in an effort to minimize the harsh economic impact of COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdowns ordered by state and local governments. Two of these are the Emergency Paid sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA).

While some states and localities have already enacted paid sick leave laws, the federal government has now joined the fray and, for the first time, mandated employers with 500 employees or less provide paid sick leave in certain coronavirus-related circumstances under EPSLA.

EFMLEA, an expansion on FMLA, which was enacted in 1993, requires employers to provide expanded family and medical leave to employees who are unable to work, because they are caring for their child whose school or place of care is closed due to coronavirus.

Bryan Jacoutothere.

, an attorney in Taylor English’s employment and labor relations practice group, shares more about the Emergency Paid sick Leave Act and the Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act, including the basics, exemptions and penalties for noncompliance, in a short video