HUMAN RESOURCES - E. NOLASCO

Approve 80 hours of COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank for San Benito county Employees, for use between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021.  

SBC FILE NUMBER: 130

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board of Supervisors has taken a proactive approach when it comes to keeping employees safe and providing the necessary tools to continue to serve our community.

HR6201 better known as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) that was effective April 1, 2020 mandated that the county provide Paid Sick Leave and Expanded Family Medical Leave to our employees has expired December 31, 2020.

Additionally, the Governor passed Executive Order N-51-20 and AB 1867 which provided supplemental COVID19 Paid Sick Leave to employees.  Thanks to the Board's leadership and early approach to cover "Exempt -FFCRA employee", the County was in full compliance with both orders.

Unfortunately, the circumstances that exist for the need for the first COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank of 80 hours continue to exist due to an ever-increasing rate of infection.  

As a result of the the County has administered the current COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank of 80 hours for those employees who have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking medical diagnosis; or employee has tested positive for COVID-19.  As a result, the County has not incurred worker's compensation costs due to the County covering the time away from work for under FFCRA.  However, if no other mechanism of leave is established, the County will be forced to pay under workers' compensation and potentially incur future premium costs associated with claims and exposure.

We ask of the Board to approve the reestablishment of eighty (80) hours of COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank and have it set to expire on June 30, 2021:

• for those employees who have been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine related to COVID-19;
• or is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and has confirmed a medical diagnosis;
• or employee has tested positive for COVID-19

 This leave will not create an unfunded liability as employees will not be paid out upon separation.

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• Approve COVID-19 Sick Leave Bank of eighty (80) hours to eligible employees, as set forth above, for use between January 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021.