Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday signed a bill to extend mandatory COVID-19-related paid sick leave through April 1, 2022.
The House and Senate had unanimously passed the bill on Sept. 27, and the governor signed it a couple days before the benefit was set to expire.
The legislation (H. 4127) amends a law that was enacted in late May requiring Massachusetts employers to temporarily provide up to five days of emergency paid sick leave to employees who are absent or unable to work for reasons related to COVID-19, including employee self-care and care of a family member with a COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms, compliance with an order to quarantine because of exposure or symptoms, and inability to telework after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
The definitions of “employer” and “employee” include local government.
The law also expands eligible uses to include time off to receive a vaccination, and to recover from, or help a family member recover from, symptoms related to COVID-19 immunization. Additionally, the new law includes funding for a public awareness campaign to “educate and promote awareness about COVID-19 Massachusetts emergency paid sick leave.”