Global Compliance Desk – United States
Emergency Paid Sick Leave Bill in the wake of CoronaVirus: United States
The Democrats in the House and Senate introduced legislation directed at providing workers to use sick leave in health emergencies, in light of the recent global outbreak of coronavirus. This bill requires:
- Employers with 500 or fewer workers have to provide paid sick leave and family leave. Small and midsize companies are required to provide 14 days of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of paid family leave for employees affected by the coronavirus who has worked at the company for at least a month.
- Employers with fewer than 50 workers can apply for an exemption through the Labor Department from having to provide paid family leave.
Current Status: On March 14, 2020, the House passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act after negotiations with the White House. If the bill is approved by the Senate and signed by Trump, it would grant 2 weeks of paid sick leave to most workers at 100 percent of the person’s normal salary. It would also provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave at 67 percent of the person’s normal pay for most workers.
