Q: COVID continues to be problem for many and is hitting close to home with these new variants that are highly contagious (I know relatives and friends who are getting very sick!). I work for a company that gives 40 hours (5 days) of paid sick leave. If I ever need to take leave due to COVID (either I get sick or my family gets sick) I will need more than 5 days. What are my options?
A: When this column first started writing about COVID-19 in March 2020, the recorded cases in California was 700 (!). Today, as we write this in late January 2022, there are over 8 million infections in the state and nearing 80,000 deaths. The pandemic that started two years ago is still with us and shows no sign of stopping.
Even though emergency laws took effect to help employees navigate common issues of illness and sick leaves, the last of those measures have since expired. Now, with the surge of the Omicron variant, the number of Californians who were not working in the last month because they or a family member had COVID increased by 320%, according to the California Budget and Policy Center. With the need to go on sick leave, employees are understandably concerned about their rights regarding leave, wages, and work protection.
Under California law, an employee working for 30 or more calendar days within a year is entitled to paid sick leave. An employer is required to provide a minimum of 3 days, or 24 hours, of sick leave per year. Paid sick leave may accrue at a rate of 1 hour for...
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