New COVID-19 variants, while less deadly, are spreading more easily. Many businesses require you to quarantine in the event of a positive COVID test. Many people choose to quarantine to protect their co-workers and loved ones.
Can you lose your job while quarantining? How about if you stay home to care for a loved one with COVID?
How will you pay your mortgage?
Until December 31, 2022, California’s Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health’s (CalOSHA) Emergency Temporary Standards requires employers to continue and maintain your earnings, seniority, and all other rights and benefits, including the right to your job status, when the employer prevents you from entering the workplace because of a positive COVID-19 test or a COVID-19-related order to isolate issued by a local or state.
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office addresses laws they enforce that protect your wage and hours. You may use your Paid Sick Leave for absences due to illness, the diagnosis, care or treatment of an existing health condition or preventative care for the employee or the employee’s family member. Your employer may allow you to use your Paid Sick Leave after exposure to COVID-19 or after traveling to a high risk area.
Other leave may be available. If there is a vacation or paid time off policy, an employee may choose to take such leave and be compensated provided that the terms of the vacation or paid time off policy allows for leave in this circumstance.
2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave Law entitles covered employees access to two separate 40 hour banks of leave. The first covers you if you are unable to work or telecommute because of your own or a family member’s COVID-19 symptoms, while you seek a medical diagnosis or during a medically recommended quarantine period. You also qualify for this bank of leave if you are caring for a family member whose school or daycare is closed due to COVID-19. The second bank of leave is only available if you or the family member you care for tested positive for COVID-19.
If you have been fired because you quarantined after a positive COVID-19 test or stayed home to care for a family member with COVID-19, contact our informed attorneys to receive the help you need and the money you deserve. If your family member’s school or daycare was closed due to COVID-19 and you stayed home to care for them and you were fired, contact our sympathetic attorneys who understand the difficulties you are facing.
If you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage payments due to COVID-19, you may be able to get help to catch up with them. The California Mortgage Relief Program uses federal Homeowner Assistance Funds to help homeowners get caught up on past-due housing payments and property taxes. The program is absolutely free and the funds do not need to be repaid. If you qualify, you can get up to $80,000 of your past due payments covered. This money goes directly to your mortgage servicer. Property Tax Relief is also available; you may qualify for up to $20,000. If you need assistance with your application or have questions about your eligibility, please contact your mortgage servicer or a HUD-certified housing counselor at 1-800-569-4287.
To learn more about the foreclosure process, visit California’s Housing Is Key website.
In the meantime, contact our experienced attorneys to reclaim lost earnings and win a settlement you deserve.