Labor & Employment Alert: Federal Programs for Emergency Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family and Medical Leave About to Expire? – postscript

As we told you on Monday, Congress intended to proceed with its massive Covid-19 funding bill, but had not announced plan to include an extension of its Paid Sick Leave or Emergency Family and Medical Leave programs from last spring. As you also undoubtedly know, they did enact a 5,593 page law, termed the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.” Reports are that there was indeed backroom negotiating to extend these programs going on to the end, but those clauses were still not included. Net result:

If you are an employer looking to see these programs end, they will in fact sunset with the end of this year; and that is one less HR restriction you need to keep track of.

If you are an employer who found the programs useful, there is a twist! The requirements will be gone; however, employers are permitted to voluntarily continue to follow the existing rules for both the Paid Sick Leave and the Emergency FMLA program – and, if you choose to do so, the tax credits previously put in place to fund the cost of these payments will remain available through March 31, 2021.

For over 100 years Brouse McDowell has assisted clients in getting through difficult times and helping them solve problems continuing with this tradition, please contact us with any questions and we would be glad to help.