To: MMA Policy Committees

Subject: Initial Guidance on Federal COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law

The US Department of Labor has issued initial guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which requires employers with 500 or fewer employees to provide paid sick or family leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Additional guidance will be released in the coming weeks but this initial round provides some insight on the law, including:

• The requirements of the act will go into effect on April 1, 2020.
• The Act will not apply retroactively. The leave requirements effective 4/1/20 are on top of any paid leave provided prior to that date.
• The Department will be focusing on compliance assistance in the initial 30 days that the Act is effective. So long as an employer has acted reasonably and in good faith to comply with the Act, there will not be an enforcement action for violations.

For more information, see:

• FFCRA Employee Paid Leave Rights
• FFCRA Employer Paid Leave Requirements
• FFCRA Questions and Answers

As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly with questions regarding this or any other matter.

Delaney

Delaney McKinley | Senior Director of Government Affairs and Membership | Michigan Manufacturers Association
620 S. Capitol Ave • Lansing Michigan • 48933
Tel: 517.487.8530 | Fax: 517.853.3330 | Email: [email protected]