Are you a Colorado business owner wondering about paid time off and the new law that went into place on January 1, 2022?
Hi, I’m Marie Drake of The Drake Law Firm, and today, I’m going to talk to you a little bit about that law and about your obligations as an employer to your employees under this new law. On January 21, 2022, Colorado strengthened its public health emergency leave law, and for small employers and big employers, there’s now mandatory leave that you need to know about. So that’s what we’re going to talk about today, and it’s not just COVID related. Beginning January 1 of 2022, all businesses, no matter how big or how small, have to provide 80 hours of paid time off for what are called COVID-related needs. Now, COVID-related needs can mean a number of things. it can mean actual COVID diagnosis and symptoms. It can mean just the symptoms without a positive COVID test. It can mean helping out in terms of a family, like if a school is closed, you have to give your employees time off to be home with their children if that school is closed because of COVID. And there’s a couple of other reasons. So you need to be aware of these no matter how big or small your business is.
Also, COVID-related needs include COVID testing, vaccine side effects, increased susceptibility because of the suppressed immune condition, and also quarantine. So keep this in mind. It’s a complex law, and as an employer, you need to know it.
As a business owner, you’re not allowed to require proof of COVID-related needs. And this is really problematic. It’s also unfair to employers, but it’s the law and you have to comply with it. Aside from COVID-related needs, employers in Colorado are required to provide all of their employees, including part-timers, one hour of paid time off, PTO, per 30 hours worked up to 48 hours per year. So as an employer, you need to follow this law. It went into effect during the public health emergency on January 1, 2021 and became a permanent part of the law on January 1, 2022. So make sure you’re tracking those PTO hours and make sure you’re complying with the law.
If you have any questions at all about this, give us a call here at The Drake Law Firm, we have experienced business attorneys ready to assist you with your business no matter how big or how small. So give us a call today. We’re looking forward to speaking with you
