The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association has been communicating directly with manufacturers across Illinois as the situation changes and will continue posting resources online at the IMA’s dedicated page
www.ima-net.org/covid-19/
.
Daily COVID-19 Results
Governor JB Pritzker held his daily press conference and announced:
- There are 937 new cases of coronavirus in Illinois.
- There are a total of 99 deaths related to coronavirus in Illinois, including 26 today.
- A total of 5,994 cases have been confirmed in at least 54 of the 102 counties.
- There have been 35,225 individuals tested in Illinois.
Press Conference Key Updates
New or critical items of note that were discussed today by the Governor and local leaders:
- The Governor announced that he will extend the state's disaster declaration, stay-at-home order and suspension of schools and on-site learning through April 30, 2020.
- Noting that ICU beds and ventilators are still available in different parts of the state, the Governor warned that the greatest risk of hitting capacity is still weeks away.
- Governor Pritzker spoke at length about protecting those in the states' criminal justice system and said that the state is dedicated to supporting those in the state's care.
Mayor Lightfoot also gave remarks at the press conference and asked that all Chicago residents join the fight and and volunteer with the Chicago Medical Reserve Corps program to provide a variety of assistance to combat COVID-19. To learn more, visit
illinoishelps.net
Employer Resources & Programs
The IMA is continuing to offer conference calls and webinars this week to update manufacturers and businesses about changing laws, rules, and regulations.
On Thursday, April 2, from 10:00am to 11:00am CST, the IMA is partnering with the law firm SmithAmundsen for a webinar on the topic of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and how employers can take advantage. This important program is for companies that are struggling with paying their bills. You will learn:
- How to get funds from the SBA which may be forgivable
- About enhanced unemployment benefits
- About additional government funding
- How to have these discussions with your banker
Question & Answer Section
1. May I take 80 hours of paid sick leave for my self-quarantine and then another amount of paid sick leave for another reason provided under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act?
No. You may take up to two weeks—or ten days—(80 hours for a full-time employee, or for a part-time employee, the number of hours equal to the average number of hours that the employee works over a typical two-week period) of paid sick leave for any combination of qualifying reasons. However, the total number of hours for which you receive paid sick leave is capped at 80 hours under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act.
2.
If I am home with my child because his or her school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable, do I get paid sick leave, expanded family and medical leave, or both—how do they interact?
You may be eligible for both types of leave, but only for a total of twelve weeks of paid leave. You may take both paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave to care for your child whose school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19 related reasons. The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provides for an initial two weeks of paid leave. This period thus covers the first ten workdays of expanded family and medical leave, which are otherwise unpaid under the Emergency and Family Medical Leave Expansion Act unless you elect to use existing vacation, personal, or medical or sick leave under your employer’s policy. After the first ten workdays have elapsed, you will receive 2/3 of your
regular rate of pay
for the hours you would have been scheduled to work in the subsequent ten weeks under the Emergency and Family Medical Leave Expansion Act.
Please note that you can only receive the additional ten weeks of expanded family and medical leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act for leave to care for your child whose school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19 related reasons.
3. Can my employer deny me paid sick leave if my employer gave me paid leave for a reason identified in the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act prior to the Act going into effect?
No. The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act imposes a new leave requirement on employers that is effective beginning on April 1, 2020.
4. Is all leave under the FMLA now paid leave?
No. The only type of family and medical leave that is paid leave is expanded family and medical leave under the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act when such leave exceeds ten days. This includes only leave taken because the employee must care for a child whose school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19 related reasons.
5.
Are the paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave requirements retroactive?
No.
