Over the last several days, attempts to contain and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus have severely disrupted everyday life in the USA. Worries are running the gamut from, “Where can I find toilet paper?” to “I can’t work, I’m not being paid, how can I pay for toilet paper?” Many workers, including nannies, need a source of emergency income to get through this pandemic.
On Friday March 13 the US House of Representatives passed HR 6201 “Families First Coronavirus Response Act” to address a myriad of immediate concerns for the health and well-being of US citizens. On Wednesday March 18 the Senate passed the act, and the President signed it into law.
Three specific provisions address the income disruptions the coronavirus emergency response is causing. One covers workers who need paid sick leave because they or a family member have contracted coronavirus and the other addresses employer reimbursement for mandatory paid family leave paid. A third covers unemployment benefits to those who lose a job (permanently or temporarily) as a result of coronavirus.