The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires certain employers to provide their employees with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to the Coronavirus or COVID-19.

The expanded family and medical leave provisions of the FFCRA apply to virtually all private employers with fewer than 500 employees.

In general, the new law requires covered employers to provide the following to all employees who meet leave criteria specified by the FFCRA:

• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of expanded family and medical leave at an employee’s regular rate of pay, or
• Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds an employee’s regular rate of pay

The rate of pay that the employee qualifies for is dependent on the reason they are taking the FFCRA leave.

Additionally, a covered employer must provide the following to employees whom it has employed for at least 30 days:

• Up to an additional 10 weeks of expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay

Qualifying reasons for leave, guidance on pay rate calculation, tax credits and exemptions for businesses are addressed in the attached Compliance Bulletin.

Also included with this communication are links to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Guidance Documents on FFCRA as it pertains to Employers and Employees that was released today as well as an informative DOL Q & A.

Contact your NEEBCo Benefits Advisor or Account Manager with questions.

For a complete list of NEEBCo’s staff and their contact information, please click here.

DOL-Families First-Employer Expanded FMLA Requirements