The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced on March 24 its first round of published guidance to offer information to employees and employers about how each can take take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The law takes effect on April […]
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD) announced on March 24 its first round of published guidance to offer information to employees and employers about how each can take take advantage of the protections and relief offered by the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).
The law takes effect on April 1.
FFCRA will help the U.S. “combat and defeat COVID-19” by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members, the Labor Department said. The legislation will “ensure that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus while at the same time reimbursing businesses.”
The guidance — provided in a fact sheet for employees (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employee-paid-leave), a fact sheet for employers (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-employer-paid-leave and a questions and answers (Q&A) document (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions) — addresses key questions. These include: how an employer must count its number of employees to determine coverage; how small businesses can obtain an exemption; how to count hours for part-time employees; and how to calculate the wages that employees are entitled to under this law.
The guidance announced is just the first round of information and compliance assistance to come from WHD, the Labor Department said. A workplace poster required for most employers is slated to be published, along with additional fact sheets and more Q&A features.
WHD says it provides additional information on common issues employers and employees face when responding to COVID-19, and its effects on wages and hours worked under the Fair Labor Standards Act and job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic.
For more information about the laws enforced by the WHD, visit https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd.
For further information about COVID-19, people can visit the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/
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