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<br />Request for Action <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />To Item Number <br />Mayor and City Council 8.4 <br />Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br />General Business January 19, 2021 Lauren Wipper, Human Resources Manager <br />Item Description Reviewed by <br />Consider Extending Emergency Sick Leave Cal Portner, City Administrator <br />Reviewed by <br /> <br /> <br />Action Requested <br />Consider extending emergency sick leave as was provided through the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. <br /> <br />Background/Discussion <br />The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) went into effect April 1, 2020, and expired December 31, <br />2020. The Act required employers with 500 or fewer employees to provide 80 hours of emergency sick leave to all <br />employees and expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to cover absences needed for childcare or <br />school closings related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Governmental entities were exempted from paying the <br />employer portion of social security. <br /> <br />The Consolidated Appropriations Act, approved in December, did not extend the leave mandate but allows for a <br />voluntary extension. However, the social security exemption was not extended. <br /> <br />Between April 1 and December 31, 2020, approximately 35% of full-, part-time, and seasonal employees used this <br />leave, mostly due to required quarantine for exposure, potential exposure, or symptoms and were getting tested. <br />About 12.5% tested positive for the virus. A few used time due to day care or school closures. Once the leave is <br />used, employees need to use their own sick or vacation time. <br /> <br />The City Council should consider extending the emergency sick leave portion of the Act for regular employees <br />who are sick or quarantined and have remaining balance. Cities thus far have set a variety of sunset dates. Staff <br />suggests June 30, 2021, or when the Emergency Executive Order is rescinded, whichever occurs sooner. <br /> <br />Financial Impact <br />Employees are paid at their current rate of pay. There is a limited financial impact to when an employee leaves <br />employment and receives a severance pay out on their accrued sick leave. <br /> <br />Mission/Policy/Goal <br />This supports the mission to “appropriately govern in an ever-changing environment.” <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> None <br /> <br />The Elk River Vision <br />A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional <br /> <br />service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity. <br /> Updated: August 2020 <br />