CIC/BCA - Coronavirus (COVID-19) news & Information
CIC/BCA Legislative Update
New York State Passes New Paid Sick Leave Benefits
TARRYTOWN,NY–The New York State legislature passed and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed into law on March 18, 2020 new paid sick leave benefits for employees impacted by COVID-19 who are subject to mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation. The law takes effect immediately.
Each employee subject to mandatory or precautionary quarantine or isolation issued by the NYS Department of Health, Local Board of Health or any Governmental Entity is entitled job protection and to the following benefits.
For Employers with 10 or Fewer Employees and a Net Income Under $lM
- As of January 1, 2020, unpaid sick leave until termination of mandatory or precautionary quarantine due to COVID-19. Employees will be eligible for benefits under paid family leave and short-term disability benefits.
For employers with 10 or Fewer Employees and a Net Income Greater than $lM and Employers between 11 and 99 Employees
- At least 5 days paid sick leave and unpaid leave until the termination of any mandatory or precautionary quarantine.
- After the 5 days of paid sick leave the employee will be eligible for paid family leave benefits and short-term disability benefits.
For Employers with More than 100 Employees
- At least 14 days of paid sick leave during the mandatory or precautionary quarantine.
Exceptions:
The bill does not cover an employee that is asymptomatic and is physically able to work through remote access.
This bill also does not cover benefits for employees returning from travel to a destination on the CDC travel advisory list. The employee will be entitled to use accrued leave or unpaid sick leave for the duration of the quarantine.
Other Provisions:
- Workers Comp disability coverage is paid on the first day of disability.
- Disability refers to the inability to perform work as a result of mandatory or precautionary quarantine due to COVID-19.
- Disability and family leave benefits may be paid concurrently.
- The maximum weekly benefit for disability is $2,043.90
Collective Bargaining Agreements
The new provisions do not “impede, infringe, diminish or impair” the rights under a collective bargaining agreement.
Federal Paid Sick Leave
If the federal government provides for COVID-19 related sick leave benefits, the state benefits would only apply if they would provide employee benefits in excess of the federal benefits.
The bill originally included a new paid sick leave requirement. It was deleted from the draft and some version of it will be included in the budget bill due at the end of March.
For more information, please contact association headquarters at (914) 631-6070.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Facts
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as (MERS) and (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes coronavirus disease COVID-19.
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person through close contact (w/in about 3 feet) and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
- It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
- The following symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure: Fever, cough, shortness of breath
Coronavirus Control - Workplace Guidelines
Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
- Clean and disinfect shared workspaces and surfaces often. Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs.
- For a complete list of EPA approved cleaners for COVID-19, please visit the EPA website
- Below is a list of a few common cleaners that the EPA has determined are strong enough to ward off COVID-19
- Clorox Multi Surface Cleaner + Bleach
- Clorox Disinfecting Wipes
- Clorox Commercial Solutions® Clorox® Disinfecting Spray
- Lysol brand Heavy-Duty Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate
- Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist
- Lysol brand Clean & Fresh Multi-Surface Cleaner
- Purell Professional Surface Disinfectant Wipes
- Sani-Prime Germicidal Spray
- If disinfecting wipes are not available a bleach water mixture can be sprayed and wiped down to clean all flat surfaces (1 cup bleach / 5 gallons water).
- For surfaces that cannot be cleaned with Bleach a 70% Ethanol solution can be used instead
- Clean your hands:
- Before and after eating and food preparation
- After using the restroom
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
- If in contact with a contaminated surface
- If in contact with individuals that have an infectious illness
- Whenever hands are dirty
- Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- When hand washing facilities are not available and when hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless alcohol-based sanitizer, with at least 60-70% alcohol
- Apply nickel sized drop of gel or rinse to the palm of one hand
- Rub hands together, covering all surfaces of your hands and fingers, including areas around and under fingernails
- Continue rubbing hands together until alcohol dries
- If you applied enough alcohol hand rub, it should take at least 10-15 seconds of rubbing before your hands feel dry.
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid touching your Eyes, Nose and Mouth
- Cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow. Do not use your hands!
- Avoid close contact
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Put distance (approximately 6 feet) between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community. This is especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
- Travel
- If you have traveled recently, take necessary safeguards to protect others using recommendations listed above (Avoiding close contact, cleaning your hands often, disinfecting surfaces commonly touched, etc.)
- The CDC recommends travelers avoid all nonessential travel to countries with a level 3 travel advisory at this time.
- For travel within the U.S.: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-in-the-us.html
- For personal travel, we suggest you check with the CDC Travelers’ Health (https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel) or the state department travel guides (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international- travel.html). Remember the situation can change quickly. You should consider the possibility of being screened or even quarantined upon returning from an international trip, especially from a country with significant levels of infection.