Online Tool Determines Leave Status

The US Department of Labor has launched an interactive online tool to help workers determine whether they qualify for paid sick leave or extended family and medical leave to cover time away from work for reasons related to the coronavirus.

The tool guides workers through a series of questions to help them determine if the paid leave provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) apply to their employer.

FFCRA requires certain employers to provide employees with up to two weeks of paid sick leave if they are unable to work due to a federal, state or local quarantine or stay-at-home order. Employees are also eligible if a healthcare provider has advised them to self-quarantine for reasons related to the coronavirus or if they are seeking diagnosis for coronavirus symptoms. Paid sick leave may also be available to workers caring for someone subject to a quarantine order or caring for a child whose school or childcare provider is unavailable due to the coronavirus.

In addition, FFCRA extends tax credits to American businesses with fewer than 500 employees to reimburse them for the cost of providing paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave as required by the law.

Visit the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division website for updates on the new law and view its Quick Benefits Tips for information about how much leave workers may qualify for and the wages employers must pay.