Background
On May 28, 2021, employers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in accordance with Senate Bill, H-3702, were required to provide employees with up to 40 hours (prorated for part time employees) of emergency paid sick leave for specific reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic. These reasons included the employee’s own COVID-19 related health issues, vaccination appointments and recovery time, as well as caring for applicable family members who were affected by COVID-19.
Summary
The program was set to expire on April 1, 2022, or when the $100 million in funding was exhausted, whichever came first. To date, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has received over $85 million in reimbursement applications. On February 28, 2022, the Massachusetts Office of Administration and Finance published a notice to employers announcing the program’s amended expiration date will now be March 15, 2022.
Employers may continue to seek reimbursement for time provided to employees between May 28, 2021 and March 15, 2022. Applications for reimbursement must be submitted to the Department of Revenue’s MassTaxConnect website by April 29, 2022.
Employer Next Steps
- Employers should continue providing paid sick time to their employees for COVID-19 related reasons through March 15, 2022.
- Employers must submit all applications for reimbursement by April 29, 2022. For instructions on how to complete the reimbursement application, please review the Department of Revenue’s Instructional Video.
- If you have questions about this e-Alert, please email us.
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This content is provided with the understanding that HR Knowledge is not rendering legal advice. While every effort is made to provide current information, the law changes regularly and laws may vary depending on the state or municipality. The material is made available for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice or your professional judgment. You should review applicable laws in your jurisdiction and consult experienced counsel for legal advice. If you have any questions regarding this content, please contact HR Knowledge at 508.339.1300 or email us.
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