Massachusetts COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave

June 1, 2021

On Friday, May 28, 2021, Governor Baker signed an act that requires Massachusetts employers to provide COVID-19 emergency sick leave to employees effective immediately. Employees are eligible for the emergency sick leave if they are diagnosed with COVID, required to quarantine or need to care for a family member who is sick with COVID. The COVID emergency sick leave is also available to employees who are getting vaccinated or recovering from vaccine side effects.


Employees are eligible for up to 5 days of leave, at their regular rate of pay, capped at $850 a week. Employers may not require employees to use other types of paid leave before they use COVID-19 emergency leave. Also, employers may not interfere with an employee’s ability to take the emergency sick leave or discipline an employee for taking the leave.


The Act creates a $75 million fund to reimburse employers for providing employees with the emergency sick leave. Employers seeking reimbursement must have employees submit a written request. Employers should use a form to collect the required information from employees. The requirement to provide COVID emergency sick leave will last until September 30, 2021, or until the fund runs out. 


While employers must comply with this new law immediately, guidance on the mechanics of the law have yet to be released. The Commonwealth claims such guidance will be given “in the coming weeks.”


In the meantime, for any questions on compliance, or estimations on the type of guidance we can expect, please contact any of the attorneys at Royal Law Firm at 413-586-2288.

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Our attorneys successfully obtained summary judgment in favor of the Defendant from the Massachusetts Appeals Court in a Wage Act and contract dispute. The Complainant alleged entitlement to a substantial variable compensation award following resignation. We demonstrated that the compensation plan made such awards discretionary and contingent on continued employment at the time of payout. The Appeals Court agreed, finding that the award did not constitute wages under the Wage Act and that the Defendant acted lawfully in denying payment. All claims were dismissed in their entirety.

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Attorney Amy Royal has once again been selected as a Super Lawyer ! As published by Super Lawyers Amy B. Royal is a top-rated attorney, with her firm headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts. Providing legal representation in the New England states and New York, for a variety of different issues, Amy Royal was selected to Super Lawyers for 2014 - 2016, 2019 - 2025. Attorneys like Amy B. Royal are recognized by their peers for their outstanding work and commitment to the spirit of the legal profession. Their knowledge of the law, professional work ethic, and advocacy on behalf of their clients allow them to stand out among other attorneys in the field.