Are You Eligible for COVID-19 Paid Leave?

by Cheryl Stanton

Many Americans affected by the coronavirus outbreak will benefit from new workplace protections and relief offered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

If you work for a private employer with fewer than 500 employees and are in one of the situations described below, you may be eligible for paid sick leave and/or paid family leave:

Paid sick leave up to two weeks or 80 hours at the employee’s regular rate or the minimum wage (whichever is higher),* if one of these scenarios applies:

You’re under a government quarantine or stay-at-home order.
You’ve been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine.
You’re seeking a diagnosis for COVID-19 symptoms.

Paid sick leave up to two weeks or 80 hours at 2/3 of the employee’s regular rate or the minimum wage (whichever is higher),* if either scenario applies:

You’re caring for somebody under quarantine or a stay-at-home order.
You’re caring for your child whose school, child care provider, or place of care is unavailable due to COVID-19.

Paid family leave up to 10 additional weeks at 2/3 of the employee’s regular rate,* if both criteria apply:

You’re caring for your child whose school, child care provider, or place of care is unavailable due to COVID-19; and
You’ve been employed at least 30 calendar days.

*Paid leave is capped at specific maximum amounts per worker.

An eligible employee working for a covered employer can access paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act by checking with their employer, requesting the leave, and letting their employer know which of the qualifying conditions applies.

Some public sector employees are also eligible. A new poster highlights these paid leave benefits and the qualifying scenarios.

The Wage and Hour Division has already completed more than 400 cases for workers denied leave, and has conducted hundreds of outreach events to educate workers and employers about the benefits and protections of this new law. To file a complaint, workers can call 1-866-4US-WAGE.

Find more information about how much leave covered employees can take, resources for workers and employers, and answers to commonly asked questions at dol.gov/FFCRA.

Cheryl Stanton is the Administrator of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division.