Due to so many summer camp closures, employees may be eligible to take paid leave under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), according to the DOL.
In a June 26 field assistance bulletin, the DOL said an employee is entitled to paid leave when they’re unable to work due to their child’s place of care being closed due to the coronavirus restrictions.
Employees are eligible for two weeks of paid sick leave and up to 12 weeks of Emergency FMLA Leave (10 of which are paid).
While the FFCRA was initially intended for employees with school closure issues, it now applies to summer camps or programs if their child was enrolled before the closure.
Proof of enrollment
If proof of a child’s summer camp enrollment isn’t available, employees need to provide “affirmative steps” taken to enroll, such as:
• an application submission
• a paid deposit
• prior attendance, or
• their name on a waitlist.
An employee must also provide, orally or in writing, the reason for leave and a statement saying they’re unable to work because of that reason.
