Ep. 6: Unpacking the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act
April 9, 2020
Episode details
National leave expert Ellen McCann takes us on a deep dive into the latest guidance around Emergency Paid Sick Leave. The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) is one of two key components in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). It applies to organizations with less than 500 employees and public agencies.
- The measurement period for determining number of employees is as of the time the employee is going to be using the paid sick leave. [02:40]
- An employee is entitled to two weeks of their normal schedule. If an employee is normally scheduled to work 40 hours a week, they would be entitled to 80 hours. [03:39]
- There are six reasons for leave – and these fall into two key categories of reasons for employees taking this form of paid leave. [04:57]
- For an employee to access Emergency Paid Sick Leave, they either need to be subject to a quarantine order (including a shelter in place order if it prevents them from working) or be under the advisement of their medical provider to self-quarantine. The employee can also take this leave if they have symptoms and are seeking a diagnosis. [05:58]
- This form of leave does not apply to employees who are furloughed. [08:53]
- Additionally, an employee can take Emergency Paid Sick Leave to care for a son or daughter whose school or place of care is closed, or to care for an individual who is subject to a quarantine order/doctor’s order to self-quarantine. [09:26]
- The Department of Labor has offered further guidance on the FFCRA – check their FAQ page.
Have an idea for our next podcast?
Stay up to date and informed with the latest company information and helpful links on our COVID-19 resource center.
Featured speaker
Ellen McCann
Assistant Vice President, Leave Solutions — Unum Group
Ellen McCann serves as a leading expert in applying benefits and benefits technology to power modern solutions to more effective employee leave programs, stronger regulatory compliance and enhanced digital HR transformation. In this role, she combines more than 30 years of employment law experience with practical knowledge of the complexities of leave and accommodation management to help develop and create solutions that enable employers to address the challenges of leave and accommodations. She is an acclaimed national speaker on leave management issues including FMLA and ADA, and is a certified trainer for SHRM and CE credit.
About the host
Clare Morin
Unum Content Marketing Manager
Clare Morin is the Content Marketing Manager at Unum and a journalist who’s spent the last 20 years interviewing hundreds of thought leaders on topics ranging from wellness to culture, finance, human resources and technology. Born in the UK, raised in Hong Kong and based in the U.S. since 2009, she brings a global outlook to the HR Trends studio.
You may be interested in
Podcast
Episode 19: The uncertain future of FFCRA
August 18, 2020
Two national employment law experts, Jeff Nowak and Ellen McCann, discuss the NY federal court’s decision and its implications for the future of FFCRA leave – and employers.
