Attention Employers with 26 or more Employees

A new COVID-related employment law (SB 95) was signed by the Governor on March 19, 2021. Starting March 29, employers with 26 or more employees must provide an additional 80 hours of paid sick leave to employees who are unable to work or telework for the following COVID-related reasons:

1. The employee is subject to a quarantine or isolation period related to COVID-19;
2. The employee is advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
3. The employee is attending an appointment to receive a COVID-19 vaccine;
4. The employee has symptoms from a COVID-19 vaccine that prevents the employee from working or teleworking;
5. The employee has symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
6. The employee is caring for a family member subject to a quarantine order, or who was advised to self-quarantine by a healthcare provider; or
7. The employee is caring for a child whose school or childcare facility is closed because of COVID-19.

There are poster/notice and wage statement requirements that must be followed.

Additionally, the law is “retroactive” to January 1, 2021. This means that if an employee was absent from work for any of the 7 above-mentioned reasons between January 1, 2021 and March 28, 2021, the employer will have to pay the employee for that time off if requested.

There are many other nuances to this new law and covered employers can contact employment attorney, Steven Lee, for more information.

Steven P. Lee, Esq.

Slee@mwgjlaw.com

(805) 644-7188