- Diego Loinaz-Martin
BRIEF ON PAID SICK-LEAVE LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
Updated: Apr 5, 2020
On March 18, 2020, the federal government approved the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201).
This Act takes effect no later than April 2, 2020, and provides covered employees emergency paid sick leave (to full-time employees eighty (80) hours of paid sick leave) and an emergency paid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (up to twelve (12) weeks of job-protected leave under the FMLA to employees that cannot work or telework for a “qualifying need related to a public health emergency”). Is applicable to private employers with fewer than 500 employees, with exceptions such as employees who are health care providers or emergency responders. Other exceptions are pending to be regulated by the US Department of Labor for employers with fewer than 50 employees when compliance with this Act would jeopardize the viability of their business.
In Puerto Rico, the Senate and House of Representatives approved House Bill 2428. Bill 2428, will amend Puerto Rico’s Law No. 180-1998 (“Law 180”), to grant a special paid leave of five (5) working days for private sector non-exempt employees who suffer, or are suspected to suffer, from any sickness that has resulted in the Governor or Secretary of Health of Puerto Rico declaring a “State of Emergency.” This Law is pending to be signed by the Governor.
Should you need additional information on how these bills will impact your specific operations in Puerto Rico, or its implementation, please contact us.