Guide to COVID-19 Related Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Ended on December 31, 2022

From January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022, California required most employers to provide workers up to 80 hours of supplemental paid sick leave for COVID-19 reasons. Employers with 26 or more employees during this period had to provide this paid time off for workers who needed to stay home due to COVID-19 illness, exposure, caring for a family member, a COVID test or vaccine, recovering from side effects and more. If a worker took unpaid time off due to COVID-19 in 2022, they should be paid for these sick leave hours. More information is available in the Labor Commissioner's frequently asked questions.

FAQs on CA 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Covers: Supplemental Paid sick leave for CA employees Coverage Reasons for taking leave Date in effect and expiration date Requesting leave from an employer Calculating leave Credits Record keeping and pay stubs Notice required, retaliation protections, filing a claim Relation to other laws
FAQs on Recall Rights Covers: Types and sizes of businesses that must comply with the recall law Which employees have recall rights How recall of laid-off employees happens Employee and employer notification under the law Records that must be maintained by the employer What can be done if recall rights are violated or retaliation occurs Interaction with non-state recall ordinances
FAQs on Exclusion Pay Under the Emergency Temporary Standard Covers: Employees exposed to COVID-19 in the workplace Eligibility for exclusion pay Calculating pay Relationship to Paid Sick Leave Law Filing a wage claim for exclusion pay Anti-Retaliation protections related to exclusion pay
Testing and Vaccine FAQs Compensation for time spent obtaining COVID-19 test or vaccination Compensation for cost of COVID-19 test or vaccination Anti-retaliation protections related to vaccination
Side by Side Comparison of Paid Leave Options Covers basic protections and eligibility requirements for: CA Paid Family Leave CA Paid Sick Leave CA 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave
Essential and Non-essential Workers Covers: Paid Sick Leave The Stay-at-Home Order Protections for non-essential workers who refuse to return to work Guidance for individuals who are over 65 or immunocompromised Protections for independent contractors Filing a complaint with the Labor Commissioner
Laws Enforced by the Labor Commissioner’s Office Covers: Paid sick leave Options if your child's school or day care closes Reporting time pay Employee right to privacy Retaliation protections Participating remotely in Labor Commissioner actions
Safe Reopening for Workers and Employers Covers: Employer obligations to keep the workplace and employees safe Positive COVID-19 tests Paid Sick leave Face coverings Medical Checks Waivers of liability Returning to worksite
FAQs on CA 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Covers: Supplemental Paid sick leave for CA employees Coverage Reasons for taking leave Date in effect and expiration date Requesting leave from an employer Calculating leave Credits Record keeping and pay stubs Notice required, retaliation protections, filing a claim Relation to other laws
FAQs on CA 2020 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (EXPIRED 12/31/2020) Covers: Paid sick leave for food sector employees Paid sick leave for non-food sector employees Date in effect and expiration date Eligibility requirements Employer approval Coverage for independent contractors in food sector Amount of leave Retaliation protections, filing a claim Local laws, SDI and employer credit for providing leave Posting requirements Supplemental Paid Sick Leave for COVID-19 related reasons expired on December 31, 2020. If you have a claim for a violation of the law that occurred prior to December 31, 2020, your claim will be heard. More information on the SPSL expiration is available on the Labor Commissioner’s webpage.
FAQs on CA 2021 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Covers: Supplemental Paid sick leave for CA employees Coverage Reasons for taking leave Date in effect and expiration date Requesting leave from an employer Calculating leave Credits Record keeping and pay stubs Notice required, retaliation protections, filing a claim Relation to other laws

January 2025

Office Name	Topic	Phone Numbers
Cal/OSHA	Workplace Safety and Health	833-579-0927
Labor Commissioner's Office	Wages, breaks, retaliation and labor laws	833-526-4636
Division of Workers' Compensation	Benefits for work-related injuries and illnesses	1-800-736-7401
Office of the Director	Any other topic related to the Department of Industrial Relations	844-522-6734

Guide to COVID-19 Related Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Ended on December 31, 2022

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