DOL issues FFCRA Revisions

The Department of Labor has revised the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), with changes effective September 16, 2020. These revisions clarify workers’ rights and employers’ responsibilities under the FFCRA’s paid leave provisions:

• Reaffirm and provide additional explanation that employees may take FFCRA leave only if work would otherwise be available to them.
• Reaffirm and provide additional explanation that an employee must have employer approval to take FFCRA leave intermittently.
• Revise the definition of “healthcare provider” to include only employees who meet the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) definition or those providing diagnostic, preventative, treatment, or other services integral to patient care that, if not provided, would adversely impact patient outcomes.
• Clarify that employees must provide required documentation supporting their need for FFCRA leave to employers as soon as practicable.
• Correct an inconsistency regarding when employees may be required to provide notice of a need for expanded family and medical leave.

Full details of the changes are available at Federal Register.