Today, March 27, 2020, the Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance that would require employers with 500 or more employees to provide 80 hours of paid sick leave.  The “Supplemental Paid Sick Leave” would be capped at $511 per day and $5,110 in the aggregate.

The ordinance, requires the following:

  • Applies to employers with 500 or more employees nationally
  • Employee is any individual who performs any work within the geographic boundaries of the City for an employer.
  • Employees who have worked for an employer from February 2, 2020 to March 4, 2020 would receive at least 80 hours of paid sick leave.
  • Reasons that an employee could use the paid sick leave include:
    • time off because a “public health official or health provider requires or recommends the Employee isolate or self-quarantine to prevent the spread of COVID-19”;
    • the employee takes time off because they are at least 65 years old or has a health condition that puts them at risk;
    • the employee needs to care for a family member who is not sick, but who public health officials or healthcare providers have required or recommended self-quarantine;
    • the employee needs to provide care to family member whose senior care provider, school, or child care provider is closed.

The final ordinance did exempt first responders and health care providers as defined in Section 12945.2 of the California Government Code.  The ordinance expires on December 31, 2020 unless the City Council takes action to extend the ordinance.

The ordinance will now proceed to the Mayor’s office for his signature.