A lawsuit filed by the New York Attorney General against the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) alleges that regulations issued by the federal agency unlawfully narrowed workers’ eligibility for paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA).
FFCRA Paid Leave
The FFCRA provides paid leave to certain workers for specified coronavirus (COVID-19)-related reasons. Two types of leave are required under the act: emergency paid sick leave of up to 80 hours, and up to 12 weeks of partially compensated emergency family medical leave under an expansion to the Family and Medical Leave Act.
The DOL issued regulations to implement the FFCRA’s leave provisions, effective April 2, 2020.
The New York Lawsuit
In its lawsuit, New York claims the regulations violate the FFCRA by:
Imposing a new work availability requirement that permits employers to deny leave requests;
Defining the health care provider exemption too broadly;
Requiring employer consent for intermittent leave; and
Requiring that employees provide their employers with extensive documentation related to their request for paid leave.
The legal action was filed on April 14, 2020, in federal district court in New York.
Highlights
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFRCA)
The FFCRA, passed on March 18, 2020, provides paid leave to certain workers affected by the coronavirus.
DOL Regulations
The DOL issued regulations to implement the FFCRA, effective April 2, 2020.
New York v. DOL
New York challenged the FFCRA regulations in a legal action filed on April 14, 2020.
To Download a PDF copy of this Legal Update: Click Here
Speak with Acumen Solutions Group to discuss benefits strategies for your organization. Click Here to Contact Us.