EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
PAID SICK LEAVE AND EXPANDED FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE UNDER THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT
Is experiencing any other substantially similar condition What MEA Members Need to Know about The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their the U.S. reasons Department of Health and Human employees with Coronavirus paid sick leave andResponse expanded family and medicalspecified leave forbyspecified related to COVID-19. the Families First Act Services. (U.S. Dept. of Labor poster, Employee Rights) These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which ► PAID ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES: In general, employees of private sector LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS goes into effect on April 1, provides protections for American employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees: workers that include increased funding for unemployment, paid sector employers, including all public schools, are eligible for up to to leave, two weeks (80 hours, a part-time equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of emergencyUp sick paid family and or medical leaveemployee’s for COVID- two-week two weeks of fully their regular rate of pay, testing, or the applicable or Federal minimum wage, paidor at:partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related related childcare, free coronavirus increasedstate funding for reasons (see above). Employees who have been employed for at Medicaid, and •emergency funding for food security initiatives. 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and total;to their leave request may be eligible for up to least 30$5,110 days prior These initiatives include strengthening the Supplemental Nutrition 10 weeks of partially • 2/3 for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; paid and expanded family and medical leave for Assistance Program (SNAP), loosening restrictions on schools that reason #5 above. to 10 weeks more of paid leaveofand expanded family and medical leave paid at 2/3 for qualifying provide meals •toUp students, and increasing thesick number potential reason #5 below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total. feeding sites if COVID-19 disrupts the food supply. The U.S. Dept. of Labor has provided information on the A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work emergency paid leave and FMLA expansion. For more information, period. Employersover mustthat now provide paid sick leave and expanded family
details of the bill, a flyer and a Q&A sheet explaining its contents, and medical leave under certain conditions related to the impact click on the links below. If you believe you are eligible and require ► ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES of COVID-19. The bill is in effect from April 1 until December 31 of leave the qualifyingand reasons listed, please be in touch with your thanfor 500 employees, certain public sector this year. In general, employees of private sector employers with feweremployer. If you have further questions, please contact the MEA/ employers, are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below). your Director. Employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior toUniServ their leave request may be eligible for up to an The U.S. Department of Labor has provided a summary of the Act: additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below.
PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS: Generally, employers covered under ► QUALIFYING the Act must provide employees: Up to two weeks hours for REASONS FOR (80 LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19 full-time, or part-time employee’s of paid if the employee is unable to work, including unable to Ana employee is entitled totwo-week take leaveequivalent) related to COVID-19 sick leave: telework, because the employee: • 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total; 5. is caring for his or her child whose school or 1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or • 2/3 for qualifying reasons below, up to $200 daily and place of care is closed (or child care provider is isolation order #4-6 related to COVID-19; $2,000 total; and unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or hasof been advisedfamily by a health care provider to • Up to 102. weeks expanded and medical leave for 6. is experiencing any other substantially-similar self-quarantine related to COVID-19; qualifying reason #5 below, paid at two-thirds pay up to $200 condition specified by the U.S. Department of is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking daily and3.$12,000 total. A part-time employee is eligible for Health and Human Services. medicalof diagnosis; leave for theanumber hours that the employee is normally scheduled that period.subject to an order described 4. toiswork caringover for an individual in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19: An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee ►is ENFORCEMENT unable to work, including unable to telework, because The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and enforce compliance the employee: withto the FFCRA.State, Employers not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who 1. Is subject a Federal, or localmay quarantine or isolation lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a order related to COVID-19; proceeding under or related to this Act. Employers in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties 2. Has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine and enforcement by WHD. related to COVID-19; For additional information 3. Is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical or to file a complaint: diagnosis; WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION 1-866-487-9243 4. Is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TTY: 1-877-889-5627 or self-quarantine as described in (2); dol.gov/agencies/whd 5. Is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is WH1422 REV 03/20 closed (or child- care provider is unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or 16
Maine Educator • April 2020
