On March 18, 2020, President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (the Act) into law. The Act requires employers to provide paid leave for some employees related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, among other measures. The Act takes effect no later than 15 days after it is signed by the president. 

The Act requires two weeks of paid sick leave for government workers and employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees. Leave must be made available to workers who are symptomatic or are under an order or advice to quarantine or self-isolate, who have to care for a family member under such an order or advice, or who have a child whose school or child care provider or facility has closed or is unavailable due to the coronavirus. 

The Act provides that future regulations issued by the Dept. of Labor may exempt health care providers and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees from the paid sick leave requirement. 

The Act provides FMLA rights for some employees of companies with fewer than 500 employees, requiring partially paid leave after 10 days when an employee is unable to work or telework due to school or child care closures related to the coronavirus. 

The Act provides funding for economic assistance and requires health plans

to cover COVID-19 testing at no charge. A refundable tax credit for employers

that provide paid leave benefits as required by the Act is also included. The

U.S. Treasury is expected to use its regulatory authority to advance funds to

some small businesses to cover the cost of providing paid sick leave. 

March 14, 2020

The Act was passed by the U.S. House  of Representatives. 

March 18, 2020

The Act was passed by the U.S.  Senate and signed by the president. 

December 31, 2020

Emergency leave benefits for  workers provided under the Act would expire.