COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Expanded in California

On September 9, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation (AB 1867) codifying Executive Order N-51-20 which:

• Mandates that a food employee working in any food facility must be permitted to wash their hands every 30 minutes as needed; and
• Makes the COVID-19 food sector supplemental paid sick leave effective until December 31, 2020, or when any federal extension of the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA) established by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) expires, whichever occurs later.

The law also creates a new entitlement to COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for persons employed as health care providers or emergency responders. This new entitlement is also effective until December 31, 2020, or when any extension of the EPSLA expires, whichever occurs later. 

According to the Governor’s message, the law closes the gaps between paid sick days provided in federal law and the Governor's Executive Order. The law now includes employers with over 500 employees as well as all employers of first responders and health care employees who opted not to offer coverage under federal law. 

The Labor Commissioner can cite workplaces for a lack of paid sick days under the expanded law.