The law covers private employers with fewer than 500 employees and certain public employers. Small business with fewer than 50 employees may qualify for an exemption if leave payments would threaten the viability of their businesses.
The law requires cover employers to provide workers up to two week of paid sick leave at full pay, up to a specified cap, if they are unable to work under a government quarantine or isolation order or they have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to Covid-19
Employees can also qualify for up to two weeks of paid sick leave at partial pay, up to a specified cap, if they must care for another individual related to the same virus issues or if a child’s health care provider is unavailable. Covered employers must also provide up to 12 weeks family and medical leave, up to 10 weeks at partial pay, if a worker must care for a child whose school or place of care is closed.
The United States reimburses private employers with tax credit for the costs of such leave.