The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division recently posted “Quick Benefits Tips” for information about how much leave workers may qualify to use, and the wages employers must pay. The law enables employers to provide paid leave reimbursed by tax credits, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.
WHD provides additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to the coronavirus and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and on job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic.
Quick Benefit Tips from DOL
How much paid leave can employees take? In general, applies to employees of either a private employer with fewer than 500 employees or a covered public sector employer.
- If an employee is following a federal, state, or local quarantine or stay-at-home order or are quarantined by a health care provider; or if an employee has COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a diagnosis:
Time off: Up to two weeks or 80 hours of paid sick leave at higher of regular rate or minimum wage*
- If an employee must care for someone under a federal, state, or local quarantine or stay-at-home order or are quarantined by a health care provider; or if an employee must care for his/her child whose school, childcare provider, or place of care is unavailable due to COVID-19:
Time off: Up to two weeks or 80 hours of paid sick leave at higher of 2/3 regular rate or minimum wage*
- If an employee must care for his/her child whose school, childcare provider, or place of care is unavailable due to COVID-19; and if employee has been employed at least 30 calendar days:
Time off: Up to 10 additional weeks of family leave paid at 2/3 regular rate*
*Paid leave is capped at specific maximum amounts per worker