Late yesterday, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) without any changes to the House-passed bill. President Trump immediately signed the bill into law.
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Major coronavirus response bill
The new law provides paid leave benefits, enhances Unemployment Insurance benefits, and institutes free coronavirus testing. It also provides tax credits to help cover the benefit cost and certain qualified health plan expenses. Our March 18, 2020 FYI includes a summary of the employee paid leave and health benefit provisions. They generally will go into effect no later than April 2, 2020 (15 days of the bill’s enactment) and sunset on December 31, 2020.
In closing
While awaiting further guidance, employers should begin to consider how best to coordinate the emergency FMLA and sick leave entitlements with existing leave policies and related state and local mandates.
Volume 43 | Issue 18