Paid Sick Leave Updates - August 2020

Paid Sick Leave Updates

Since our February 2020 Newsletter, additional jurisdictions have enacted, or will soon enact, paid sick leave laws. The first group of jurisdictions are those enacting general paid sick leave laws that are not emergency measures in response to COVID-19. This first group includes Maine (effective 1/1/2021), New York (sick leave accrual starts 9/30/2020, but employees cannot start to use until 1/1/2021), and Colorado (effective 1/1/2021). Maine’s new leave law is unique in that it is unlike sick leave and more like PTO because it can be used for any reason. (Click here for a chart of new and previously enacted non-COVID-related paid sick leave laws.)

The second group of jurisdictions are those that passed emergency paid sick leave laws in recent months in response to COVID-19 and are intended to be temporary measures that expire upon a specific date or after the national health emergency ends. This second group is vast, including federal (see EP’s alert on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act here), state (see EP’s alert on NY State COVID-19 sick leave here), and local jurisdictions, and even more are expected to join this group as the pandemic continues. This second group includes (non-exhaustive list): New York State, New Jersey, District of Columbia, Colorado, Michigan, Seattle, Philadelphia, and many California cities and counties including San Francisco, Los Angeles County & City, Sacramento, San Mateo County, Long Beach, and Oakland.