By: Jerry L. Stovall, Jr.
On December 27, President Trump signed the "Stimulus Bill" which is intended to provide additional relief from the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and to keep the government operating. This Bill, now law, does not continue the mandatory paid leave provided by the Families First Coronavirus Protection Act, which expires on December 31, 2020. Oddly, Section 286 of the Stimulus Bill extends the payroll tax credit for paid sick leave and paid family leave for employers who voluntarily provide the paid leave through March 31, 2021. It does not appear as if this extension of the federal tax credit was intended to provide additional paid leave to those employees who have already exhausted their allotment.
Of course, President-elect Biden and the new Congress might agree to extend the protections of the FFCRA once they take office on January 20, 2021.
Stay tuned.......