Congress passes FFCRA to provide relief, protections during COVID-19 outbreak

In response to the coronavirus pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19), Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), and President Donald Trump signed it into law on March 18, 2020. The FFCRA provides various forms of relief, including paid sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for certain employees, free COVID-19 testing, expanded food assistance and unemployment benefits, and employment protections for healthcare workers. More bills providing additional relief are likely to be passed.

Emergency paid sick leave

Significantly, the FFCRA requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid sick leave and expanded family leave for their employees. Employers with 500 or more employees are not subject to those requirements. The key employment-related provisions of the bill are effective as of April 2, 2020, so employers must act promptly to ensure their policies comply with the new requirements.

Under the FFCRA, employers with fewer than 500 employees are required to provide paid sick leave to any employee who: