COVID-19 is just the latest example of low wage American workers being asked to choose between their loved ones and a paycheck. H.R. 6201, Families First Coronavirus Response Act was introduced in the US House last night, and is expected to be voted on as early as today. By providing paid leave, we can ensure that all workers can follow the advice of medical experts to stop the spread of this virus, by staying home when sick and taking care of family members, without putting their families in economic hardship. Provisions of this bill include: New Paid Leave Policies - Paid sick days for all workers: 7 sick days per year, to use for their own or family member’s illness, with an extra 14 days for COVID-19 care purposes. - Reimbursement to small businesses for the expenses of those 14 days (through 2020). - Paid leave for COVID-19 care purposes for up to 12 weeks, with 2/3 wage replacement. The program would be federally funded and administered through the Social Security Administration (through 2020). Updates to the federal FMLA, which provides job-protected, but unpaid leave: - Allow time for quarantine, school closings, etc. - Coverage for all workers (vs FMLA coverage of those employed at least 1 year, for employers of at least 50 workers). |