The Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act covers employees who are unable to work (or telework) due to a need for leave for reasons related to COVID-19. This article reviews the requirements of this Act.

The Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA), as signed into law by the President on March 18, 2020, expands employer responsibility for providing paid leave to employees.  The act amends the federal FMLEA to require employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide relief to certain qualified employees during a public health emergency.

This article discusses employment issues arising during the COVID-19 pandemic and how employers adjusted to these rapid changes.

Understanding ERISA is important to employers for three main reasons: First, ERISA governs the operations of group health benefit plans (also, 401(k) plans, retirement plans, and life and disability insurance plans). Second, ERISA gives participants and beneficiaries of group health benefit plans the right to sue for breach of fiduciary duty. Finally, employers or their employees may be held liable for breaching the provisions of the Act.