• employer employs fewer than 50 employees;
• leave is requested because the child’s school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19 related reasons; and
• an authorized officer of the business has determined that at least one of the three conditions described below is satisfied.

1. The provision of paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave would result in the small business’s expenses and financial obligations exceeding available business revenues and cause the small business to cease operating at a minimal capacity; 
2. The absence of the employee or employees requesting paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave would entail a substantial risk to the financial health or operational capabilities of the small business because of their specialized skills, knowledge of the business, or responsibilities; or 
3. There are not sufficient workers who are able, willing, and qualified, and who will be available at the time and place needed, to perform the labor or services provided by the employee or employees requesting paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave, and these labor or services are needed for the small business to operate at a minimal capacity.

1. The employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID–19.
2. The employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID–19.
3. The employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID–19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
4. The employee is caring for an individual who is subject to either number 1 or 2 above.
5. The employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the secretary of health and human services in consultation with the secretary of the treasury and the secretary of labor.

• Employees who, prior to April 1, 2020, were sent home and are no longer being paid because the employer worksite closed.
• Employees who, on or after April 1, 2020, are sent home and are no longer being paid because the employer worksite is closed.
• Employees who are already on EPSL or EFMLA when the employer closes the worksite on or after April 1, 2020 (in this case, the employer must pay for any leave taken prior to the closure).
• Employees who are furloughed on or after April 1, 2020 due to lack of work, even if the worksite remains open.

• Hacking incidents have increased 15 to 20% since January of 2020. Make sure that the computer that you are using at home has up-to-date security software protection. To reduce exposure to hackers, make sure that all of your software programs are up-to-date. When companies update their software, these updates frequently address security flaws.

• One of the most important things to keep top-of-mind while interacting with clients using various web tools is the protection of confidential information. Many employees are now working in a shared space and using their personal devices, such as phones and tablets. Are there confidential documents laying out? Can private conversations be overheard? Employers should have appropriate use policies that specifically addresses the access, use and disclosure of the company’s electronic proprietary information and data.

• Microsoft, Google Cloud Service and most other main streams apps and software products provide for two-factor authentication. Take advantage of these safeguards to protect the privacy of what is stored in the Cloud and in your on-line communications. This safeguard will make it more difficult for hackers to attack and obtain private information from you and your employer.

• Avoid phishing scams in emails. Microsoft research reveals that 91% of hacking attacks come from malicious email messages. You should avoid opening any email where you don’t recognize the sender. In this vein, be sure to look at the sender’s actual email address to ensure that it corresponds to the email you have on record for that individual. Any email asking for personal financial information, Social Security numbers or other identification information should be questioned and not responded to until you are completely sure the request comes for a legitimate source. And, even then, such information should be sent in a secure manner. Many hackers have very carefully disguised their email messages to appear to be official.

• With mandatory social distancing, many are using Zoom and other similar video conferencing apps and programs to connect with colleagues and clients. When using these resources, there are several things to keep in mind. The host can sometimes use a tattle-tale attention-tracking feature that can tell them if you aren't paying attention to their meticulously-composed visual aids. Whether you're using Zoom's desktop client or mobile app, a meeting host can enable a built-in option which alerts them if any attendees go more than 30 seconds without Zoom being in focus on their screen. You should consider using a separate device if you are preparing notes and comments that you do not wish the host to have access to when they are prepared. .

• Social media, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can be a source for sending privacy information to third-parties and creating security risks. Everyone should be cautious about what is disclosed on any Social Media. Be aware that these sites are for profit businesses and any information shared on these sites are often sold to third parties. Consider blocking third party cookies and using tracker-blocker browser extensions to make sure extraneous information isn’t being passively transmitted to third parties. Finally, review and limit your Privacy Settings regularly to make sure they are up-to-date.