California Employers Need to be Aware of Local Emergency Paid Sick Leave Ordinances
An increasing number of California cities are implementing emergency paid sick leave ordinances or expanding application of current paid sick leave ordinances for the purpose of providing paid sick leave benefits to employees affected by COVID-19 who may not be entitled to benefits under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). As of today, the following cities have adopted such ordinances: Los Angeles; San Jose; San Francisco; San Diego; and Emeryville. Oakland is currently considering such an ordinance. Although the ordinances differ, they generally apply to employers who are not required to provide paid sick leave benefits under the FFCRA. For details regarding the requirements of the specific ordinances, please click on one of the following cities:
On a related note, on April 16th, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Executive Order N-51-20, which provides emergency paid sick leave to certain food supply chain workers, provided they are subject to specified qualifying reasons. Information about this new law can be found here: https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/4.16.20-EO-N-51-20.pdf.
We will continue to monitor the rapidly developing pandemic situation and provide updates as appropriate.
