COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Laws: What’s Left?

COVID-19 paid sick leave laws — they’re still around.

During the initial stages of the pandemic, we saw an influx of new temporary ordinances requiring employers to provide paid leave for COVID-19-related reasons. And employers scrambled to comply.

In late 2021, many of these supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave requirements expired.

However, two years later, employers still need to contend with the shifting landscape of COVID-19 paid sick leave laws.

Remaining COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Laws

Some jurisdictions have made permanent changes to their general paid sick leave laws for absences due to public health emergencies (Colorado, New Jersey, Seattle and Philadelphia, for example).

Meanwhile other jurisdictions have passed temporary vaccine and recovery paid leave laws, and a few of the COVID-19 paid sick leave laws are still in force.

Here’s what is still in force for COVID-19 paid sick leave or vaccination and recovery leave for private employers, as well as their corresponding expiration dates.

Employers should be sure to research the specifics of each law to remain compliant, especially in places such as California, where a number of COVID-19 paid sick leave laws remain in effect.

Paid Leave Management. Simplified.

Washington, D.C.

The District of Columbia in December 2021 passed a vaccine and recovery paid leave law.

It became effective in February 2022, allowing paid time off for vaccinations or recovery from vaccination.

The COVID-19 paid leave law in Washington, D.C., expires Oct. 1, 2022.

California

California supplemental COVID-19 paid sick leave is back in effect (yes, again).

Passed in February 2022 and made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022, it will be in force through Sept. 30, 2022.

Officials have also released the related labor law postings and issued FAQs about the law.

Labor Law Poster Updates. Simplified.

Long Beach

COVID-19 paid sick leave is still in effect but will expire upon recommendation.

Los Angeles

COVID -19 paid sick leave will expire at the end of the public health emergency.

Los Angeles County

COVID-19 paid sick leave will expire at the end of the public health emergency.

Oakland

COVID-19 paid sick leave will expire at the end of the public health emergency.

Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the state’s emergency COVID-19 paid sick leave law has been extended through April 1, 2022, as long as there is money in the state emergency fund.

Nevada

Nevada’s vaccination paid leave law allows paid time off just for obtaining the vaccine and expires on Dec. 31, 2023 (yes, 2023).

New York State

New York State’s COVID-19 paid sick leave law does not have a specific expiration date.

There, officials added a vaccination paid leave provision, which was effective March 12, 2021, and extends through Dec. 31, 2022.

New York City

In December 2021, New York City amended its paid sick leave law, allowing for paid vaccine and recovery leave for the children of employees.

The effective date was retroactive to Nov. 2, 2021, and will expire Dec. 31, 2022.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s temporary COVID-19 paid sick leave law will expire on July 27, 2022.

Washington State

Washington state’s COVID-19 paid sick leave for food sector workers will expire at the end of the public health emergency.

Seattle

Seattle’s COVID-19 paid sick leave for gig workers will also expire at the end of the public health emergency.

Conclusion

While there is cautious optimism that pandemic seems to be waning, employers still have compliance matters to consider.

In addition to the above, many of the jurisdictions with general paid sick leave laws published guidance early in the pandemic that instructed employers that employees should be allowed to take paid leave under their paid sick leave laws for COVID-19-related reasons.

Given the patchwork and variety of these paid leave laws, employers need to be on their toes to remain in compliance.

This Employment Law News blog is intended for market awareness only, it is not to be used for legal advice or counsel.