Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

Published May 01, 2020 by
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Campus Community:

On March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was enacted to address the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. community. It includes two Acts (effective April 1, 2020) that apply to the University and provide paid leave benefits to University employees under certain circumstances. A copy of employee rights, as laid out by the U.S. Department of Labor, is attached for reference. Please note that certain types of employees, such as healthcare professionals and first responders, may be exempt from certain provisions of the FFCRA.

I.                    The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA)

The EPSLA provides up to 80 hours (pro-rated for part-time employees) of paid sick leave for employees who are unable to work (or telework) for any of the following reasons:

  1. If you are subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order relating to COVID-19;
  2. If you have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
  3. If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
  4. If you are caring for an individual who is subject to a COVID-19 quarantine or isolation order or who has been advised by a health care provider to self-  quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19;
  5. If you are caring for a child because the child’s school or place of care has been closed, or the child’s regular child care provider is unavailable, due to COVID-19.
  6. If you are experiencing any other substantially similar condition as specified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

If you are unable to work for reasons (1) – (3) above, the EPSLA provides paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate (or the applicable minimum wage, whichever is greater), up to $511 per day or $5,110 in total.  If you are unable to work for reasons (4) – (5), the EPSLA provides paid sick leave of two-thirds of that amount, up to $200 per day or $2,000 in total.

II.                  Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act Expansion Act (EFMLEA)

The EFMLEA provides up to 12 weeks of family and medical leave to eligible employees who are unable to work (or telework) because they are caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable, for COVID-19 related reasons.

The first two weeks of this leave is unpaid, but you may use the paid sick leave available under the EPSLA or any other existing leave to receive pay for that period.  The remaining 10 available weeks are paid at two-thirds of your regular rate of pay, up to $200 per day or $10,000 total.

Employees who are interested in leave under the FFCRA are required to complete the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Request Form and send it to ADMINLEAVEREQUESTS@ecu.edu. Please note that leave under the FFCRA works in parallel with leave provisions offered by the University and will offset such leaves as appropriate. As part of the FFCRA process, teams in Human Resources will assist employees and departments with those nuances on a case-by-case basis.

If you have questions, please direct them to your HR Benefits Consultant.