Paid Leave and Coronavirus — Part 35: Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Will Expire On March 15th

Seyfarth Synopsis: The Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Insurance has announced that the Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave (“MEPSL”) will expire on March 15, 2022.  Employers have until April 29, 2022 to file their applications for reimbursements.

On May 28, 2021, a temporary Massachusetts law providing 40 additional hours of paid sick leave (pro-rated for part-time employees) for COVID-19 related reasons went into effect. Employers are able to apply to the state for reimbursement for up to $850 per employee, including the cost of benefits.  The law was set to expire on April 1, 2022 or until the exhaustion of $100 million in program funds.

Since applications for reimbursement from the program fund have reached $85 million, the program will end in 15 days, on March 15, 2022. The Massachusetts Office for Administration and Finance has set a deadline for employers to apply for reimbursement by April 29, 2022.

Employers should notify employees of the program’s end date and submit any outstanding reimbursements here.

Contact your Seyfarth attorney and/or consult Seyfarth’s COVID-19 Resource Center for updated information regarding the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and its impact on the workplace.

To stay up-to-date on Paid Sick Leave developments, click here to sign up for Seyfarth’s Paid Sick Leave mailing list.  Companies interested in Seyfarth’s paid sick leave laws survey should reach out to paidleave@seyfarth.com.