Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) extends certain additional benefits to employees, including paid sick leave for COVID-19 related illness and expanded family and medical leave coverage to address the lack of childcare due to COVID-19. 

In an email to the campus community, Bill Bradly, vice chancellor and chief human resources officer, explained more about the act:

Dear faculty and staff,

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which was passed into law on March 18, extends certain additional benefits to employees, including paid sick leave for COVID-19 related illness and expanded family and medical leave coverage to address the lack of childcare due to COVID-19. The provisions of FFCRA will apply from April 1 through December 31, 2020.

Please see the FFCRA Informational Poster provided by the Department of Labor. www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf.

The Office of Human Resources is coordinating with colleagues across the UMass system, including the UMass Office of General Counsel, to gather guidance for interpreting and implementing the provisions of this new Act. Information related to the FFCRA will be added to umass.edu/coronavirus when it is known.

Employees with questions about the Act as it pertains to their personal situations should contact the HR COVID-19 Response Team at Covid19HR@umass.edu.

Sincerely, 

Bill Brady
Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer
covid19HR@umass.edu