Q: I have been sent home twice for 2 weeks each time due to covid. They say I will not be paid this time around.
The first time I had a cough and it took the full 2 weeks to get a covid test result. It was negative and all I had was bronchitis. I was paid during this time (supposedly from the CARES Act even though I was covid negative). This most recent time my boss got covid on vacation, brought it into work and subsequently gave it to me. Now I'm home again, test was positive, and I might be out longer than the 2 weeks. I can't go that long without being paid. Is there anything in the law that protects me?
A: Hi, good question. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) requires some employers to provide employees with paid sick leave for absences related to COVID-19. The requirement only applies to companies with less than 500 employees. If your employer has less than 500 employees, you may be entitled to up to two weeks of paid sick leave at your regular rate of pay if you are quarantined due to COVID-19. I would reach out to an employment lawyer in your state to set up a consultation and discuss options.
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