The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) extends tax credits available to covered employers who provide qualified sick and family leave wages (within the meaning of ARPA) to their employees between Apr. 1, 2021 through Sep. 30, 2021.
Chicago Amends Paid Sick Leave Ordinance to Expand Bases for Leave
The Chicago City Council amended its Paid Sick Leave Ordinance (PSLO) to clarify and expand the bases to take paid leave and to create a new action for wage theft.
New Hampshire Adopts Paid Leave Program
New Hampshire has joined eight states and the District of Columbia when, on June 24, 2021, the New Hampshire Legislature passed a two-year state budget that includes a paid leave program.
Nevada Expands Paid Leave Rights for Employees, Including for COVID-19 Vaccination
Nevada has enacted a new law requiring employers to provide additional paid leave to allow employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and clarifying that employees may use existing paid leave to care for themselves and their family members.
Connecticut Enacts Law Providing Employees Unpaid Time Off to Vote
Connecticut Governor Lamont has signed into law a requirement for employers to provide all employees with two hours unpaid time off to vote.
Maine Expands State FMLA to Allow Leave to Care for Serious Health Conditions of Grandchildren
Maine employees will soon be eligible to take protected unpaid leave to care for serious health conditions of their grandchildren. On June 14, 2021, Governor Janet Mills signed into law L.D. 61, an Act to Include Grandparents Under Maine’s Family Medical Leave Laws.
Understanding Time Off From Work Obligations For COVID-19 Vaccinations
Last week, President Biden encouraged employers to pay employees for time off to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and highlighted the tax credits available for employers with less than 500 employees.
Philadelphia Enacts COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave
Philadelphia has joined a growing list of localities to require employers to provide employees paid COVID-19-related sick leave.
Understanding CFRA: Who Is Eligible for CFRA Leave
With the recent expansion of the California Family Rights Act (CFRA), employers who previously were not covered under CFRA now find themselves having to navigate the murky waters of the law.
Seventh Circuit Continues To Find That Lengthy Leaves of Absence May Not Be Reasonable Accommodations
On Dec. 30, 2020, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit issued its opinion in McAllister v. Innovation Ventures, LLC, No. 20-1779 (7th Cir., Dec. 30 2020), and held that an employer did not violate the ADA where it terminated its employee after it became clear that she would require several additional months of leave after she had already been granted a two-and-a-half-month leave of absence due to her disability.
California’s Governor Signs Several Bills Causing Bold Changes to Employee Leaves
California wrapped up its 2020 Legislative Session with the Governor passing several bills that bring dramatic changes to employee leave requirements.
Washington Governor Creates COVID-19 Food Production Workers Paid Leave Program
Under the Washington COVID-19 Food Production Workers Paid Leave Program, no food production employer in Washington may operate from Aug. 18, 2020, to Nov. 13, 2020, unless the employer provides its workers with paid leave for certain qualifying events.
Extended School Closings Create Homework for Employers
You can hear the parents wailing across the country, as states begin to announce their plans to keep physical schools closed or alternate between in-school and virtual classes for the upcoming year.
Colorado Enacts Legislation Requiring Employers to Provide Employees with Paid Sick Leave
Colorado has enacted the Healthy Families and Workplaces Act (SB20-205) (HFWA) to require employers to provide employees with up to six days, or up to 48 hours, of earned paid sick leave.
Summer Break Does Not Necessarily Mean A Break From FFCRA Leave Requirements
Its July. A time when in normal years, schools are closed and families are planning vacations. But in 2020, paid vacation is being replaced with paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), leaving employers asking, can they still do that?
Chicago City Council Passes COVID-19 Anti-Retaliation Ordinance
Chicago’s City Council has passed an ordinance to protect employees from retaliation by their employers if they obey public health orders or orders of a healthcare provider to stay at home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ordinance was passed by the City Council on May 20, 2020.
DOL States that Employers May Not Delay Designating FMLA Leave
On Sept. 10, 2019, the Department of Labor issued an FMLA opinion letter stating that an employer may not delay designating paid leave as FMLA leave if the delay complies with a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) and the employee prefers that the designation be delayed.
Technology and Absence Management: Consistency
Using Technology to Strengthen Consistency in Absence Management By Geoffrey Simpson Director of Sales & Marketing Presagia A consistent and timely approach is crucial for complying with the Family and … Read More
Mental Health At Work: Accommodations and Leaves
Accommodations and Leaves for Mental Illness By Jenny Haykin, MA, CRC Integrated Leaves & Accommodations Program Manager Puget Sound Energy Although the stigma of mental illness is declining with greater … Read More
Another Court Decides That Extended Leave is Not Reasonable
In Easter v. Arkansas Children’s Hospital, an employee was unable to work after exhausting her FMLA leave but she had an appointment to be evaluated by a specialist less than a month later. The employer denied the additional leave and terminated her employment. The Court held there was no violation of the ADA.