Essential Employees Worried About Coronavirus Exposure Have Few Options
Ideastream: Sharona Hoffman, Edgar A. Hahn Professor of Law, discussed the limited options for workers considered essential yet, given the nature of his or her job, is inherently at risk of contracting or being contagious from coronavirus. While it’s possible an employee could use paid time off through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Hoffman said, that amounts to a one-time use of two weeks of paid leave; however, many employee advocates are optimistic that we might see mandated paid sick leave come out of this, she said: “Paid leave is very important, and this might demonstrate how useful it is. But there’s also going to be resistance from industry, from employers, so I’m not that optimistic that we will suddenly change our approach.”