House Democrats last week announced a COVID-19 relief bill that includes up to 15 weeks of paid emergency leave for federal employees experiencing challenges related to the pandemic. The bill would also provide emergency paid leave for postal workers.
Under the proposed legislation, federal employees would be eligible for up to 600 hours of leave when forced to quarantine or ill with COVID, when caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed or is conducting virtual learning, or when caring for a family member incapable of self-care whose care provider is unavailable due to COVID.
Leave would be available until September 30, 2021 and employees would be required to first use any other paid sick leave when applicable.
In 2020, federal employees — who were experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or were unable to work due to a quarantine order from their health care provider or the government —
were eligible for up to two weeks of sick leave at full pay. The provision was limited to a maximum of $1400/week.
To read a full summary of the bill, go here.