March 23, 2020
BREAKING NEWS: FEDS PASS REVISED PAID LEAVE & OTHER EMPLOYER MANDATES IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19
Contributed by:
SmithAmundsen’s COVID-19 Task Force
As we previously reported, on March 14, 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Bill 6201 (HR6201). The legislation seeks to protect private sector workers and government employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the face of some pushback from the “small business community” and other “special interests,” the House subsequently revised the original legislation and delivered it to the U.S. Senate on March 16, 2020. Today, March 18, 2020, the U.S. Senate passed a modified bill for the President’s signature. The mandates focus on three (3) primary areas that employers must IMMEDIATELY pay close attention to: 1) PAID LEAVE; 2) EXPANSION OF FMLA LEAVE; and 3) EXPANSION OF UI BENEFITS (including the possible extension of UI benefits beyond 26-weeks). Once signed into law, the mandates are set to expire on December 31, 2020.
