With the new laws and requirements that came about because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a lot of people are wondering how this situation will affect their right to paid time off. Are employers obliged to give a sick employee some time off to recover or quarantine? What about if an employee needs to take a leave to care for a sick loved one? If you think your right to paid time off has been violated, you should see a Las Vegas Civil Rights Attorney and get proper legal advice.
Laws Regarding Paid Time Off
Effective January 1, 2020, all private employers in Nevada who have at least 50 employees will need to give employees up to 40 hours of paid leave per benefit year. The law doesn’t apply to a business that is less than two years old. Paid leave can be used by a worker on the 9th day of their employment.
Moreover, Congress passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act to give employees rights with regards to paid time off. With these news laws, states, cities, and towns, together with private companies with less than 500 employees are required to provide up to 80 hours of paid leave to employees if they have symptoms and are waiting for test results or if they are told to self-quarantine. This means that affected employees must get their regular rate of pay for those 80 hours. Also, they can use this time to care for a sick loved one or a child if their school or daycare has been closed because of the virus.
Can Your Boss Terminate You for Getting Sick?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and other federal laws protect workers from being terminated from their position because of a serious health condition. Also, the Americans with Disabilities Act prohibit companies from discriminating against workers with a disability. Sometimes, having an underlying health condition like asthma or diabetes, that COVID-19 an exacerbate could make an employee considered disabled.
If you experienced any issues with your employer refusing to give you the required paid time off during the COVID-19 pandemic or other health crisis, contact a skilled attorney. The lawyer will protect your rights, especially during the coronavirus outbreak. They can help you pursue a lawsuit against your employer and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve for your damages.
