U.S. and New York Legislation Gives Workers Covid-19 Paid Sick Leave, with Other States Considering Related Bills

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Schnader’s Brian M. Wallen and M. Christine Carty have published a client alert, “U.S. and New York Legislation Gives Workers Covid-19 Paid Sick Leave, with Other States Considering Related Bills.” It reads in part:

On March 18, 2020, the U.S. Congress passed and the President signed the sweeping Families First Coronavirus Response Act to be effective from April 2, 2020 until December 31, 2020. . It effectively requires employers with 50-500 employees to provide up to two weeks of paid sick time and amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to provide paid family and medical leave at partial pay after the first two weeks of paid leave. The legislation also provides employers with tax credits to offset the costs arising from the two types of paid leave. In addition to the employment-related provisions, the bill provides all individuals access to free coronavirus testing.

The “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” has been sharply criticized because it does not apply to employers with more than 500 employees, so-called large employers, and has numerous exemptions for employers with fewer than 50 employees. Perhaps in response, on March 18 New York state also passed and the Governor immediately signed legislation that requires COVID-19 paid sick leave for employers having far fewer than 50 employees. In addition, New York’s law includes provisions establishing generalized paid sick leave for workers. Several other states are also considering legislation which would provide workers COVID-19 related paid sick leave. 

Read the full alert here.