Department of Labor Clarifies Families First Coronavirus Response Act Implementation

The U.S. Department of Labor has issued updated guidance on implementation of the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). All employers subject to the FFCRA are advised to review this important guidance. Some of the key components of the updated guidance include the following:

• Explanation of the health care provider and emergency responder exemptions from the FFCRA paid leave requirements. These exemptions make most healthcare providers exempt from the FFCRA’s paid leave requirements, which is a major shift from prior guidance.
• Guidance on the exemption available for employers with fewer than 50 employees.
• A discussion of the interplay between emergency FMLA leave available under the FFCRA and standard FMLA leave.

The FFCRA goes into effect on April 1.

The DOL guidance can be found at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/pandemic/ffcra-questions.