United States President Donald Trump's administration issued new guidelines for employee paid leave on Wednesday as the country battles with the coronavirus pandemic.
The government removed some requirements for small businesses in terms of providing paid leave to their employees.
Based on the US Department of Labor's guidance for the coronavirus stimulus bill, companies with fewer than 50 workers can refuse 12 weeks of paid leave that the bill stipulated for those whose children are home from school or child care.
Meanwhile, employees can avail two weeks of paid sick leave and 12 weeks of paid family leave under the law. The stimulus bill also exempted employers from administering the paid family leave if it could hamper business operations.
The law is not applicable to companies with more than 500 employees. This means that in total, more than 75 percent of American workers are working at companies that can be exempt, according to The New York Times report.
However, the Department of Labor deems small businesses as exempted from administering the family leave if it would “cause the small business to cease operating,” if employee absence would create “a substantial risk” to the business or if there were not enough employees “able, willing and qualified” to fill in for the individual on leave.
Meanwhile, small businesses cannot refuse sick leave.
On the other hand, health care providers, first responders, and certain federal government employees may not be able to qualify for the family paid leave under the law.
Democrats reacted to the law, noting that it did not provide much flexibility for workers during the coronavirus pandemic.
Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) told Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia in a letter that the guidelines “violate congressional intent” and ”contradict the plain language” of the law.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Scalia pointed out that the law gave “unprecedented paid leave benefits to American workers affected by the virus, while ensuring that businesses are reimbursed.”
Paid leave remained one of the most crucial parts of the massive stimulus bill, as Democrats called on for more leave for employees. With this, the Senate has not yet voted on the package.
What workers will get
Based on the stimulus bill, individuals can expect a payment of $1,200 each. There would be $2,400 for those who are married and file income taxes together, with $500 included per child.
If a worker earns above $75,000 as an individual, $112,500 as the head of household or $150,000 when married and filing jointly, the amount of the checks begins to be reduced.
This reduction will be $5 for every $100 exceeding those thresholds. It discontinues at $99,000 in income for individuals, $146,500 for household head filers with one child, and $198,000 for joint filers without children.
Those without income or depend solely on non-taxable government benefit programs like Supplemental Security Income benefits, or SSI, from Social Security can still qualify for a check.
Other individuals who qualify for the package are self-employed workers, those looking for part-time work, and workers who resigned from their job or are not able to reach their place of work due to COVID-19.
