COVID-19 Response: Schools, Returning To Work, And The FFCRA

(August 11, 2020) - School plans across the nation are changing so fast that parents, guardians, and employers can barely keep up. While schools decide whether to offer in-person or virtual learning, essential workers continue to work, some non-essential workers are returning to their places of business, and others continue to work remotely. With the school year commencing, a common question is whether distance or online learning constitutes a school closure under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which provides paid leave for covered employees who are unable to work due to certain COVID-19 related reasons. A summary of the FFCRA provisions may be found in our previous alert here.