Los Angeles Approves Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Ordinance

Los Angeles, CA (Law Firm Newswire) August 10, 2018 – A new Los Angeles ordinance was approved on March 27, 2020 that will require companies with 500 or more employees with two weeks of additional paid sick leave. The ordinance supplements federal bill H.R. 6201, known as the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which requires paid sick leave for companies with fewer than 500 employees.

This sick leave is in addition to what employers already must provide and can be used for a number of COVID-19-related reasons. Los Angeles city sick leave laws already mandate twice as much sick leave time than California state laws. The existing ordinance required employers to give employees at least 48 hours of paid sick leave, or one hour per every 30 hours worked. The supplemental ordinance will remain in effect until December 31, 2020.

“This supplemental ordinance bridges a gap in the provisions already in place, and helps protect Los Angeles workers at large companies,” said Betsy Havens, Executive Director at Los Angeles employment law firm Strong Advocates. “This is especially important for workers when there is so much uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 crisis.”

Employers with 500 or more employees nationally must provide the additional leave to employees who perform any amount of work within the city of Los Angeles. These employees must also have worked for the same employer from February 3, 2020 through March 4, 2020.

Full time employees (40 or more hours worked per week) will receive 80 hours of the supplemental sick leave. Part time employees (less than 40 hours worked per week) will receive paid sick time equal to the average two-week wages paid during the February 3, 2020 to March 4, 2020 period.

This sick leave is to be used when an employee takes time off work for any of the following reasons:

* Being asked by a public health official or healthcare provider to enter isolation or self-quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19
* Belonging to a high-risk group such as over age 65, immunocompromised or suffering from asthma, heart disease, kidney disease or another condition
* Providing care for a family member who is in a high-risk group to prevent infection
* Caring for children or senior family members who are home due to day care, school or elder care program closures

Strong Advocates is a Los Angeles law firm that exclusively handles employment law issues. To contact Betsy Havens or schedule a consultation, visit https://www.strongadvocates.com/.

Learn more at https://www.strongadvocates.com. Strong Advocates 6080 Center Dr #600 Los Angeles, CA 90045 Phone: (310) 504-1490 Strong Advocates Blog