2020-07-21 Ex 08 (New Item Added)OF -0X
C?�y F�rti
O
9 MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Watford & City Council DATE: July 21, 2020
THRU: City Attorney Fumero
FROM: City Clerk/Personnel Administrato,
Gamiotea & City Administrator
Montes De Oca
SUBJECT: Add to Jul 21 Agenda
First Responder initial leave
related to COVID-19
Due to an unforeseen issue requiring City Council approval, please consider adding this as New
Business Item H, Exhibit 8 on tonight's agenda:
The request is for the City Council to authorize Department Heads to approve up to two -weeks
(80 -hours) Administrative Leave with Pay madno
irs respon ers within their department, at -the Department Heads discretion, for
circu- m-t�s specifically relatin toie*r exposure to the Coronavirus_
This authorization would be from July 1, 2020 through Decem er 31, 2020. --�
Per Federal Law definition, first responders within the City are: all Law Enforcement Officers, Certified
Firefighters, Dispatchers, Public Works Maintenance Operators, Lead Operators, and Foremen.
The Federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provides this same coverage to all
other City personnel but excludes first responders. This would allow Department Heads to make
decisions they need to keep their employees safe and the department functioning. They will follow the
guidelines established within the FFCRA (flyer copied on back) and the Okeechobee County Health
Department.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their
employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
PAID LEAVE ENTITLEMENTS
Generally, employers covered under the Act must provide employees:
Up to two weeks (80 hours, or a part-time employee's two-week equivalent) of paid sick leave based on the higher of
their regular rate of pay, or the applicable state or Federal minimum wage, paid at:
• 100% for qualifying reasons #1-3 below, up to $511 daily and $5,110 total;
• 2/ for qualifying reasons #4 and 6 below, up to $200 daily and $2,000 total; and
• Up to 12 weeks of paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave paid at % for qualifying reason #5
below for up to $200 daily and $12,000 total.
A part-time employee is eligible for leave for the number of hours that the employee is normally scheduled to work
over that period.
ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES
In general, employees of private sector employers with fewer than 500 employees, and certain public sector
employers, are eligible for up to two weeks of fully or partially paid sick leave for COVID-19 related reasons (see below).
Employees who have been employed for at least 30 days prior to their leave request may be eligible for up to an
additional 10 weeks of partially paid expanded family and medical leave for reason #5 below.
r- QUALIFYING REASONS FOR LEAVE RELATED TO COVID-19
An employee is entitled to take leave related to COVID-19 if the employee is unable to work, including unable to
telework, because the employee:
1. is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or
isolation order related to COVID-19;
2. has been advised by a health care provider to
self -quarantine related to COVID-19;
3. is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking
a medical diagnosis;
4. is caring for an individual subject to an order described
in (1) or self -quarantine as described in (2);
ENFORCEMENT
5. is caring for his or her child whose school or
place of care is closed (or child care provider is
unavailable) due to COVID-19 related reasons; or
6. is experiencing any other substantially -similar
condition specified by the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has the authority to investigate and enforce compliance
with the FFCRA. Employers may not discharge, discipline, or otherwise discriminate against any employee who
lawfully takes paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave under the FFCRA, files a complaint, or institutes a
proceeding under or related to this Act. Employers in violation of the provisions of the FFCRA will be subject to penalties
and enforcement by WHD.
For additional information
or to file a complaint:
WAGE AND HOUR DIVISION 1-866-487-9243
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR '
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
"""° dol.gov/agencies/whd