Massachusetts has announced that the state’s COVID-19 emergency paid sick leave program will expire on March 15, 2022. Employers must offer emergency paid sick leave through that date. The state will continue to honor employer requests for reimbursement through April 29, 2022; all reimbursement requests must be submitted by then. Official state guidance about the program explains how employers can apply for reimbursement through the MassTaxConnect website.
The program, enacted into law in May 2021, requires employers to provide employees with up to 40 hours of paid sick leave for specific COVID-19-related reasons. Employee compensation is capped at $850 per week, and employers are reimbursed for the leave from a state fund designated for that purpose.