New Massachusetts Law Provides COVID-Related Emergency Paid Leave To Employees
By: Matthew Mitchell & Amanda Thibodeau
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed into law the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Leave Act (the “Act”) on May 28, 2021.
Under the COVID-19 Emergency Leave Act:
- Massachusetts employers are required to provide COVID-19 Emergency Paid Leave benefits (up to $850) to employees who are unable to work for certain specified reasons related to COVID-19.
- A $75 Million fund (the “Trust Fund”) is created to reimburse employers for financial costs related to compliance with the Act.
All Massachusetts employers, regardless of size, are subject to the Act, and all Massachusetts employees, regardless of full-time or part-time status, are eligible to receive paid leave benefits under the Act.
Employer obligations under the Act commence on June 7, 2021, and remain in effect through September 30, 2021, or until the Trust Fund is exhausted. The Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development is expected to publish clarifying regulations in coming weeks.
The key aspects of the Act are summarized in our COVID-19 Alert.
Massachusetts Employment Law Blog 