Category: COVID-19

Delivering on its pledge to quickly provide regulations regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), the Department of Labor has issued temporary regulations regarding the Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) and Emergency Family and Medical Leave (EFMLA) provisions of the Act. We have provided updates over the past couple weeks, which you can find on our website. The guidance and interpretation of the FFCRA has changed a bit over the...

The Department of Labor has answered additional questions regarding the expanded family and medical leave (EFMLA) and emergency paid sick leave (EPSL) mandated by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.  Here are the highlights: What documentation is required?  (FAQ 15-16) We previously explained that the DOL in its second Q&A update set forth the types of information and documentation employers must require and employees must provide. ...

The Department of Labor has issued a second round of Q&A regarding the FFCRA.  Here is a summary of the new guidance and a reminder regarding some of the other more common questions. How is regular rate determined? Regular rate is the average of an employee’s regular rate over a period of up to six months prior to the date leave is taken.  If an employee has not worked for an employer for six months, the regular rate used is the average...

The Department of Labor has issued guidance in the form of a Q&A regarding the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. The DOL has also issued a Field Assistance Bulletin regarding the “temporary non-enforcement period.” The guidance provides some clarification regarding the new leave law, including:  Effective Date:  The paid leave provisions are effective April 1, 2020.  The Act was supposed to go into effect April 2 --...

The Department of Labor has released its Families First Coronavirus Response Act posters.  There are two posters: Employee Rights:  Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under the FFCRA and Federal Employee Rights:  Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave under the FFCRA Remember to print and post the applicable notice conspicuously at your worksite no later than April 1,...

The U.S. Senate today passed, by a vote of 90-8, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the amended version).  The President has signed the Act into law.  The Act will be effective in 15 days -- April 2, 2020 -- and sunsets on December 31, 2020.  The Act amends the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and mandates paid sick leave for coronavirus-related absences. Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act  FMLA...