The U.S. Department of Labor launched an interactive online tool to help workers determine if they qualify for paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave to cover time away from work for reasons related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
The tool acts as a guide for workers, which walks them through a series of questions to help determine if the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) apply to their employer. If the provisions do apply, this tool will help employees better understand their qualifying leave eligibility under FFCRA.
“As America reopens, this leave provides a crucial lifeline for millions of workers who need time off to care for themselves or their families. We want to ensure that everyone who is eligible knows about these protections and how to use them.”
Cheryl Stanton, Wage and Hour Division Administrator
Employee Leave Under FFCRA
FFCRA, which was enacted on March 18, 2020, created two types of employee leave in response to the coronavirus: paid sick leave and expanded leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
In response to the pandemic’s detrimental impact on a multitude of employees, paid sick leave was enacted to provide eligible employees with 80 hours of compensated leave in the following instances:
- If a healthcare provider has advised an employee to self-quarantine for reasons related to the coronavirus or are seeking diagnosis for coronavirus symptoms;
- If an employee is caring for someone subject to a quarantine order or are self-quarantining based on a healthcare provider’s advice; or caring for a child whose school, place of care or child care provider is closed or unavailable due to the coronavirus.
The expanded family and medical leave provisions provide up to 12 weeks of partially compensated leave to care for a child whose school or child care facility has been closed due to COVID-19.
The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.
For additional leave updates, click here. Information provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.