Missed work because of COVID-19? These California laws and programs may protect you

More than two years into the pandemic, the COVID-19 virus is still circulating, forcing people to miss work to isolate and recover.

This can be especially difficult for individuals that do not have paid leave and are missing out on paychecks from their hourly job.

Earlier in the pandemic, the federal government passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, outlining the rights that employees have to paid leave. However, this law expired in 2020.

If you’ve tested positive for the virus and cannot work, these law that may protect you:

2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave

This state-specific law originally went into effect in 2020 and was renewed in 2021 and 2022.

The 2022 law was set to expire Sept. 30, but was later extended through the end of the year.

According to the California Department of Industrial Relations, the law allows employees to have up to 80 hours of paid leave related to COVID-19. Up to 40 hours can be used for quarantining, getting vaccines and caring for a child. The other 40 hours can be used to care for someone, such as a family member, who tested positive for the virus.

This law applies to employees who cannot work or work remotely, and employers with 26 or more employees.

Although the paid sick leave law took effect on Feb. 19, if you had a COVID-related absence from work from Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, you can request payment from your employer.

Disability insurance

If you are infected with COVID and cannot work due to your illness or because of quarantine, you can apply for disability insurance.

This is a short-term wage replacement for workers in California.

There are eligibility requirements, according to the state’s Employment Development Department, which include:

• Be unable to complete regular work for at least eight days
• Lost wages because of disability
• Be employed or actively looking for work at the time that the disability begins

• Be treated or cared for by a licensed physician or accredited religious practitioner within the first eight days of your disability

• Have a medical practitioner sign a medical certification

You can file a claim online.

Paid family leave

If you are missing work because you have to care for someone who has COVID-19, you may be eligible for paid family leave.

Similar to the disability insurance, this is a short-term wage replacement program.

Eligibility requirements, according to the state, include:

• Be unable to complete regular work
• Have lost wages due to the need to provide care for a seriously ill family member
  
  
• Be employed or actively looking for work at the time your family leave begins
• Have medical certification for the ill family member

You can file a claim online.

This story was originally published August 18, 2022 at 5:00 AM.