The Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division published additional guidance to provide information to employees and employers about how each will be able to take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act when it takes effect April 1, according to www.dol.gov.
The latest round of guidance includes questions and answers addressing critical issues, such as the definition of a “health care provider” and the scope of the small-business exemption for purposes of exclusion from the provisions of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act, as well as whether public sector employees may take paid family and medical leave. In addition, WHD posted its two recently released posters and fact sheets in Spanish on its COVID-19 website.
FFCRA will help the U.S. combat COVID-19 by offering all U.S. businesses with fewer than 500 employees tax credits to provide employees with paid leave—either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their employees on their payrolls while ensuring employees are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.
View additional information WHD provides regarding common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, as well as its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act.
