The Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) required employers to provide two weeks of paid sick leave for COVID-19 reasons. The FFCRA was set to expire at the end of 2020, but the good news is that the law was extended before it expired.
However, the new law changes the rules for paid sick leave for COVID reasons.
Specifically, under the extended FFCRA, employers can provide sick leave for COVID reasons, but employers are not required to do so.
If employers choose to offer paid sick leave for COVID reasons, employers can still claim federal tax credits for up to 14 days paid sick leave that would have been covered by the FFCRA, or 12 weeks of paid FMLA leave that would have been required by the FFCRA, if taken by March 31, 2021.
Even though the new law does not require employers to provide COVID-related sick leave, hopefully the tax credit will encourage employers to see the benefit of doing so during the pandemic.
Here is information for employees who need to request leave from work for COVID reasons.
Do you have concerns about taking time off from work for medical reasons? Contact Jeff.
