Pittsburgh COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act

The COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act is a temporary ordinance signed into law on December 9, 2020, and is effective immediately. It will remain in effect until the public health emergency ends. Employers with 50 or more total employees must provide eligible employees with 80 hours of paid COVID-19 sick leave. Eligible employees are those who perform at least 51% of their work in Pittsburgh, including telework. It also includes those that normally work in Pittsburgh, but are teleworking from another location during the pandemic.

Qualified reasons for leave are as follows:

• If a healthcare provider or public health authority or employer determines that an employee would be a health risk to others due to exposure to COVID-19, or due to that employee exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.
• If an employee must care for a family member due to that family member being determined as a health risk to others due to exposure to COVID-19, or due to that family member showing symptoms of COVID-19.
• If an employee needs to quarantine due to being diagnosed with COVID-19, showing symptoms of COVID-19, or needs to seek diagnosis or other care for COVID-19.
• If an employee must care for a family member who needs to quarantine or otherwise seek treatment/diagnosis under item iii) above.

There is no specific notice requirement, but the best practice would be for employers to inform employees of the availability of this paid leave.

Pittsburgh COVID-19 Emergency Paid Sick Leave FAQs »