Laserfiche WebLink
City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: February 1, 2021 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:21-046 CONSENT CALENDAR <br />Agenda Number:8.F. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Fran Robustelli <br />Interim City Manager <br />BY:Jeff Kay <br />City Manager <br />FINANCE REVIEW:Susan Hsieh <br />Finance Director <br />TITLE:Staff Report for a City of San Leandro City Council Resolution to Approve Paid <br />Leave for City of San Leandro Employees Who Must Quarantine Due to <br />Work-Related COVID-19 Exposure <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />One of the City’s top priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic is ensuring the health and safety of <br />its employees. To address the workplace impacts of COVID-19, staff recommends that the City <br />Council approve a resolution to provide paid leave (“Quarantine Leave”) for employees who must <br />quarantine due to work-related COVID-19 exposure. <br />BACKGROUND <br />2020 was an exceptionally challenging year for employees and their families due to the <br />COVID-19 pandemic. The impacts of COVID-19 have continued into 2021, as the City has <br />recently seen a rise in the number of employee exposures and positive cases. This increase <br />aligns with State and County reports of the biggest COVID-19 surge since the beginning of the <br />pandemic. Despite adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols, City employees have also <br />experienced an increase in work-related exposures that was difficult to prevent. <br />Since April 1, 2020, employees have been eligible for Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL) for <br />COVID-19 related absences pursuant to the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). <br />After FFCRA expired on December 31, 2020, the City extended the FFCRA provisions through <br />March 31, 2021 as permitted by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and confirmed by the <br />Department of Labor. However, many employees have exhausted the allotted 80 hours of <br />Emergency Paid Sick Leave but need to take more time off for COVID-19 related reasons. For <br />instance, some employees may need to quarantine more than once. Additionally, some <br />employees do not receive their full salary while in quarantine or isolation due to EPSL’s maximum <br />benefit of $511 per day ($5,110 aggregate). <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 1/27/2021 <br />149