Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Resources for Employers and Workers

In the face of the COVID-19, the Labor & Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) wants to keep workers, employers, co-workers, and families safe. What employees are entitled to may be confusing. We are trying to make it easier and spread awareness through this centralized source of info. Use the guidance below to determine what is best for you, your family, and your workplace.

Face coverings required in public spaces

Cloth face coverings or masks help reduce the spread of coronavirus, especially when combined with physical distancing and frequent hand washing. Starting June 18, Californians must wear face coverings in common and public indoor spaces and outdoors when distancing is not possible.

Employer Assistance

• • Reduced Work Hours, Potential Closure or Layoffs, and Tax Assistance
  • Work Sharing Program
  • Side by Side Comparison of COVID-19 Paid Leave
  • FAQs on Laws Enforced by the California Labor Commissioner’s Office
  • Guidance on Conditional Suspension of California WARN Act Notice Requirements under Executive Order N-31-20
  • Financial and Technical Assistance for Small Business
  • Supportive Services for Basic Needs, Re-Employment, and Rapid Response
  • Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) COVID-19 Resources
  • Resilience Roadmap

Rights and Protections for Workers

• Laws Enforced by the Labor Commissioner’s Office
• Side by Side Comparison of COVID-19 Paid Leave
• VIDEOS: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
• Update on Essential and Non-essential Workers
• Guidance on Conditional Suspension of California WARN Act Notice Requirements
• ABB 685 FAQ on Cal/OSHA Enforcement Authority and Employee Notification Posted  September 17, 2020
• FAQs on COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
  • Workplace Poster – Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Food Sector Workers (Spanish Version)
  • Workplace Poster – Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for Non-Food Sector Employees
• Workers’ Compensation Presumption (SB 1159) Frequently Asked Questions
• Information on Executive Order for a time-limited rebuttable presumption for accessing workers’ compensation benefits for a COVID-19 infection – Posted  May 7, 2020
• Questions and Answers on Executive Order N-62-20 – Updated  May 18, 2020

California COVID-19 Statewide Industry and County Guidance

• Statewide Industry Guidance and Checklists to Reduce Risk
• County Guidance and Criteria

Cal/OSHA Guidance on Requirements to Protect Workplaces from COVID-19

General Workforce

• Interim General Guidelines on Protecting Workers from COVID-19 – Updated May 14, 2020
  English
• Know Your Rights: Safe and Healthy Workplace in California Video – Posted Apr. 28, 2020
  English

Health Care Facilities

• Interim Guidance on Severe Respirator Supply Shortages – Updated Apr. 2, 2020
  English
• Interim Guidance for Protecting Hospital Workers from Exposure to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Posted May 22, 2020
  English | Español
• Interim Guidance for Protecting Workers at Skilled Nursing and Long-term Care Facilities – Updated Apr. 5, 2020
  English | Español | 中文 (Chinese) | 한국어 (Korean) | Tagalog

Agriculture

• COVID-19 Daily Checklist for Agricultural Employers – Posted May 8, 2020
  English | Español
• COVID-19 General Checklist for Agricultural Employers – Updated May 26, 2020
  English | Español
• Infection Prevention for Agricultural Employers and Employees – Updated May 26, 2020
  English | Español | 中文 (Chinese) | Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
• COVID-19 Infection Prevention for Agricultural Workers Video – Posted May 20, 2020
  English(Video Transcript)

Child Care

• Infection Prevention in Child Care Programs – Updated May 5, 2020
  English | Español | 中文 (Chinese) |

Construction

• Infection Prevention in Construction – Updated May 13, 2020
  English

Grocery Stores

• COVID-19 Daily Checklist for Grocery Employers – Posted May 12, 2020
  English
• COVID-19 General Checklist for Grocery Employers – Updated May 26, 2020
  English
• Infection Prevention in Grocery Stores – Updated May 26, 2020
  English | Español

Logistics

• Infection Prevention for Logistics Employers and Employees – Updated May 13, 2020
  English

Mortuary and Funeral Homes

• Interim Guidance for Protecting Mortuary and Funeral Home Workers from Exposure to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) – Posted May 4, 2020
  English

Educational Materials and Fact Sheets

• Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Safety and Health Fact Sheet – Updated Jan. 3, 2020
  English
• The California Workplace Guide to Aerosol Transmissible Diseases – Updated Apr. 13, 2020
  English

Frequently Asked Questions

• Recording and Reporting Requirements for COVID-19 Cases – Updated June 2, 2020
  English

Model Written Aerosol Transmissible Disease (ATD) Plans and Programs

• Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Model Exposure Control Plan – Posted Jan. 3, 2020
  (Fillable Word) English
• Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Model Laboratory Biosafety Plan – Posted Jan. 3, 2020
  (Fillable Word) English
• Aerosol Transmissible Diseases Referring Employer Model Written Program – Posted Jan. 3, 2020
  (Fillable Word) English

Disability Insurance

• If you’re unable to work due to medical quarantine or illness related to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional)
• Short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy.
• Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 52 weeks.

Paid Family Leave

• If you’re unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional)
• Up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member.
• Approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income); ranges from $50-$1,300 a week for up to 6 weeks.

Unemployment Insurance (and any extended UI benefits programs)

• If you have lost your job or have had your hours reduced for reasons related to COVID-19
• Partial wage replacement benefit payments to workers who lose their job or have their hours reduced, through no fault of their own.
• Range from $40-$450 per week for up to 26 weeks. (plus additional weeks under extended UI benefits programs).

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

• If you have lost your job or business or have had your hours or services reduced for reasons related to COVID-19.
• Partial wage replacement benefit payments for business owners, self-employed, independent contractors, those who have limited work history, those who have collected all UI benefits for which they are eligible, and others not eligible for regular UI benefits who are unemployed, partially unemployed, unable to work or unavailable to work as a direct result of COVID-19.
• Range from $167-$450 per week for up to 39 weeks.

California Paid Sick Leave

• If you or a family member are sick or for preventive care, including when civil authorities recommend quarantine, isolation, or stay-at-home
• The leave you have accumulated or your employer has provided to you under the Paid Sick Leave law. This may be 1 hour accrued for every 30 hours worked or 3 days/24 hours provided per year; employer may cap accrual at 48 hours and use at 3 days or 24 hours, whichever is greater, within a 12 month period.
• Paid to you at your regular rate of pay or an average based on the past 90 days.

California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

• If you are (1) subject to a governmental quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19, (2) advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine or self-isolate due to COVID-19 concerns, or (3) are prohibited from working by the Worker’s Hiring Entity due to COVID-19-related health concerns.
• Up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for workers who work for hiring entities with 500 or more employees in the United States and healthcare employees and first responders employed by employers with less than 500 employees, if their employers opted out of coverage under federal law
• Paid to you at your regular rate of pay, the state minimum wage, or the local minimum wage, whichever is higher, and not to exceed $511 per day and $5,110 in total.
• If COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave is denied, file a Wage claim or report a labor law violation.

Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Sick Leave

• If you are unable to work (or telework) because:
  (1) You are subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19.
  (2) You have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19.
  (3) You are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis.
  (4) You are caring for an individual who is subject to an order as described in subparagraph (1) or has been advised as described in paragraph (2).
  (5) You are caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable, for reasons related to COVID-19.
  (6) You are experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Up to 80 hours of paid sick leave for employees who work for public employers or private employers with fewer than 500 employees. (Some exceptions may apply, including small business exemption from providing paid leave for child care.)
• For employee: Higher of regular rate or minimum wage rate, not to exceed $511 per day and $5,110 in total
• For family care: 2/3 of regular rate, not to exceed $200 per day and $2,000 in total

Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Family & Medical Leave

• If you are unable to work (or telework) because you are caring for a child whose school or place of care has been closed, or whose child care provider is unavailable, for reasons related to COVID-19.
• Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid leave for employees who work for public employers or private employers with fewer than 500 employees. (Some exceptions may apply, including small business exemption.)
• 2/3 of regular rate, not to exceed $200 per day and $10,000 total

Local Government Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19

• If you live in the city of Los Angeles, unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, San Francisco, or San Jose, you may be eligible for supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19-related reasons if you are not covered by the FFCRA.
• Up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for covered employees.
• Varies by locality: LA City, Unincorporated LA County, San Francisco, San Jose.

Workers’ Compensation

• If you reported to your employer’s worksite between March 19 and July 5, 2020 and tested positive or were diagnosed with a COVID-19-related illness, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits under the Executive Order issued by Governor Newsom on May 6.
• Under Executive Order N-62-20, you may receive temporary disability (TD) payments after exhausting specific federal or state COVID-19 paid sick leave benefits. You may be entitled to TD payments for up to 104 weeks. TD payments stop when either you return to work, your doctor releases you for work, or your doctor says your illness has improved as much as it’s going to.
• TD generally pays two-thirds of the gross wages you lose while you are recovering from a work-related illness or injury, up to maximum weekly amount set by law. In addition, eligible employees are entitled to medical treatment and additional payments if a doctor determines you suffered a permanent disability because of the illness.

Revised: May 7, 2020