It'll be interesting to see the effect of the new bill Trump signed into law yesterday. Two big changes, both apply to businesses with less than 500 employees.
First, the Family and Medical Leave Act was expanded. If you need to take a leave of absence because your kid's school or daycare closed due to Covid-19, you get to take the 12 weeks of leave provided for in the act. This applies to all employers with less than 500 employees.
Furthermore, the last 10 weeks of that leave is paid, although it's capped at $200/day.
The second big addition is paid sick leave. Everyone is entitled to two weeks of paid sick leave (they can't make you use any sick leave or vacation time your employer already gives you). However, you only get the sick leave if you are out of work because you've been diagnosed with Covid-19; you've been quarantined by the feds, the state or local authorities; you have the symptoms and you are treating but waiting for a diagnosis (that's the amorphous section); if you're caring for someone with one of those, or if your kid is out of school because of Covid-19 or the daycare closed.
Again, the sick leave pay is capped at $511/day if you're out because you're sick or quarantined or treating and $200/day if it's because of your kids school closing or you're caring for a kid or someone else who has been diagnosed.
All paid leave under both parts will be 100% reimbursed by the Feds through tax credits. But, of course, the business has to advance the money by paying the employees and hope it survives (and has taxable income) to get the credits next spring.
