The U.S. Dept. of Labor (DOL) has issued two additional Q&As regarding employee leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA).  Q&As 104 and 105 were issued on December 31, 2020. They address employees’ entitlement to FFCRA leave after December 31, 2020, and their right to payment for FFCRA leave taken before December…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) seeks information from the public about the effectiveness of paid employee family and medical leave. In a Request for Information (RFI) issued July 15, 2020, the DOL said it intends to gather information about the effectiveness of current state- and employer-provided paid leave programs, and how access (or lack…
On July 20, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced the agency’s publication of additional guidance on applying federal employment laws in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance adds information to sets of Q&As the agency issued earlier in the year about the operation of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act…
The Wage and Hour Division (WHD) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has revised the forms employers and employees may use to meet their notification and certification obligations under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In a July 16, 2020, statement announcing the changes, the DOL said the forms were revised…
July 13, 2020 | FFCRA Update With the summer season officially upon us, the Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (“the Departmentâ€) has issued Field Assistance Bulletin (“FABâ€) 2020-4 to clarify when benefits under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRAâ€) may be available due to a summer camp or enrichment program being closed…
On June 23, 2020, the Departments of Labor, the Treasury, and Health and Human Services (“HHSâ€) (collectively, “the Departmentsâ€) issued FAQ Part 43, which includes certain guidance on the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRAâ€) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (“CARES Actâ€), as well as other COVID-19 health plan issues. …
On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury (Departments) issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants, and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. This Compliance Overview summarizes the participant deadline extensions affecting COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims, and…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued temporary regulations to implement the paid leave mandates of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The regulations provide direction for administration of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) and the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA). This action is intended to…
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has issued frequently asked questions (FAQs) that address which employers are covered by the paid leave requirements of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The FFCRA requires covered employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to…
The regulations, published April 6, 2020, clarify and explain the employee leave provisions under the FFRCA’s Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA). While the corrections mainly address minor drafting errors in the regulations, some of the changes may impact employers’ implementation of the law. Substitution of…