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CLIENT ALERT: COVID Leave

Home > Media > CLIENT ALERT: COVID Leave

With absences at staggering highs and new guidance from the CDC, employers are understandably confused about paid leave rules. This is a summary of the basics as of today.

 

First, to be eligible for leave, an employee must obtain an Order of Isolation or Quarantine from their local Health Department. Failure to get an Order means that the Paid Family Leave and/or Disability claim could be denied.

 

Second, an employee who can work from home while quarantining is not entitled to paid leave, but will be entitled to pay for the work performed.

 

Third, all employees’ jobs must remain protected for the duration of the Order. What differs from one employer to the next is the amount of time during that ordered leave for which the employer must pay the employee (the rest of the time is paid by either the Paid Family Leave or Disability policy).

 

The amount of time an employer must pay for depends on the size of their workforce.

 

If you have 10 or fewer employees (and an income of less than $1 million last year), your Paid Family Leave and Disability policies should cover the whole leave. Employers of this size do not have any additional pay obligation.

 

Employers with 11-99 employees (and smaller employers that had an income greater than $1 million last year) must provide their employees with 5 days of paid sick leave.

Employers with 100 or more employees must provide their employees with 14 days of paid sick leave.

It is important to note that this leave must be given on top of all other time the employee already has due them. That includes the New York State Paid Sick Leave which took effect last year. However, if an employee takes time off for testing and is negative, that time can be charged to the employee’s New York State Paid Sick Leave or other leave banks.

 

If we can help you with any of your compliance needs, please let us know. Be sure to obtain the latest updates, since these rules are changing frequently.

 

CONTACT INFORMATION

 

Sharon P. Stiller, Esq.

160 Linden Oaks, Suite E

Rochester, New York 14625

585.218.9999

[email protected]

 

Rachel Demarest Gold, Esq.

3 Dakota Drive, Suite 300

Lake Success, New York 11042

516.328.2300

[email protected]

 

Justin T. Kelton, Esq.

1 MetroTech Center, Suite 1701

Brooklyn, New York 11201

718.215.5300

[email protected]

 

Maureen T. Bass Esq.

160 Linden Oaks, Suite E

Rochester, New York 14625

585.218.9999

[email protected]

 

Joanna M. Topping, Esq.

81 Main Street, Suite 400

White Plains, New York 10601

914.607.7010

[email protected]

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For further information about our corporate and securities experience, please contact our law firm on Long Island at 516-328-2300, in Brooklyn at 718-215-5300, White Plains at 914-607-7010, Rochester at 585-218-9999 or Albany at 518-535-9477 to schedule an initial consultation.