The state and some local COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave requirements continue through the summer. And the City of Los Angeles’ mayor issued a public order mandating additional paid leave.
Under the order, employees who work within the City of Los Angeles and have been employed by their employer for 60 days are entitled to paid time off to get vaccinated for COVID-19, including traveling to and from the appointment, as well as recovering from the side effects of vaccination, if it prevents the employee from being able to work or telework.
Effective Period
The leave mandate went into effect immediately on June 24th and expires on September 30, 2021. However, certain payment requirements are retroactive to January 1, 2021.
Amount of Leave
The amount of time an employee is entitled to take is dependent on the size of the employer and whether the employee is full-time or part-time.
| Size of Employer | Full-Time Employee | Part-Time Employee |
| 25 or fewer employees |
|
|
| More than 25 employees |
o 4 hours of additional paid leave per injection o Up to 8 hours of additional paid leave for recovery from vaccination-related side effects. |
o Up to the prorated amount of 4 hours per injection based on the average number of hours worked in the 60 days preceding the injection. o Up to the prorated amount of 8 hours for recovery from vaccination-related side effects. |
Rate of Pay
Non-exempt employees entitled to the leave are to be compensated at the highest of the following rates:
- The normal rate of pay for the workweek in which the leave is taken;
- The City’s minimum wage;
- The average hourly pay for the preceding 60 days, not including overtime.
Exempt employees are to be compensated for the leave in the same manner as the employer calculates other forms of paid leave. However, leave required by the order is not to exceed $511 per day (or $255.50 per each 4 hours), or $1,022 in aggregate.
Retroactive Provisions
If an employee took leave to receive a COVID-19 vaccine or to recover from vaccination on or after January 1, 2021, and was not compensated at an amount equal or greater to the rate required by the order, then upon oral or written request of an employee, the employer must provide a retroactive payment.
Retroactive payment will also be due to an employee if the employee had to use leave other than the city-mandated sick leave or city-mandated supplemental paid sick leave, such as vacation time and such leave must be restored to the employee.
If you have questions about compliance with the City of Los Angeles order or related issues with COVID-19 leave, contact a Jackson Lewis attorney to discuss.