Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Center
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District of Columbia
These resources – like the public health crisis itself – are constantly evolving and are only current as to the date of publication. This page was last updated on September 3, 2020.
For more up-to-date information on the relief programs available in the District of Columbia, we recommend that you visit D.C.'s COVID-19 Recovery Resources or Food Resources.
Description of Program and Relief
Declaration-of-emergency Leave from Employment
Those who believe they are eligible to receive Declaration-of-emergency leave should discuss their circumstances with their employers.
Government or Lead Agency
Office of Mayor Bowser and the Department of Employment Services
Dates Available
Available for the duration of the period for which the Mayor has declared coronavirus as a public health emergency.
Eligibility Requirements/Restrictions
Unpaid leave:
Unpaid Declaration-of emergency leave is available to any employee of a District of Columbia employer of any size, who is unable to work due to circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic. The employee’s need to take this leave is established if (1) the employee receives an order or recommendation from the Mayor, Department of Health, any other District or federal agency, or a medical professional to self-quarantine or self-isolate, or (2) the government mandates quarantine or isolation.
All employees in the District of Columbia are eligible for unpaid leave regardless of their length of employment. The employees should discuss their individual circumstances with their employers to make sure they have proper “certification of the need for such leave,” as required by this law. To qualify, a recommendation or order from the Mayor, Department of Health, any other District or federal agency, or a medical professional that the employee self-quarantine or self-isolate shall serve as certification of the need for such leave, and, in the case of a government-mandated quarantine or isolation, the declaration of public health emergency shall serve as certification of the need for such leave.
Paid leave:
Paid Declaration-of-emergency leave is available to employees of a District of Columbia employer with between 50 and 499 employees that is not a healthcare provider, who are unable to work due to circumstances related to the coronavirus pandemic. The employee’s need to take this leave is established if 1) the employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order; 2) the employee has been advised by a healthcare provider to quarantine or self-isolate; 3) the employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis; 4) the employee is caring for an individual who is subject to quarantine or self-isolation; or 5) the employee is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed, or child care provider is unavailable due to COVID-19 precautions. Full time employees are eligible for up to 80 hours of paid leave, and part time employees may receive paid leave equal to the usual number of hours the employee works in a two week period, in either case at the employee’s regular rate of pay.
Employers must provide paid Declaration-of-emergency to any employee who commenced work for the employer at least 15 days prior to the request for leave. Employers may require that an employee first exhaust any other leave available under federal of District law, or under the employer’s own policies, before requesting paid Declaration-of-emergency leave. Those who believe they are eligible to receive paid Declaration-of-emergency leave should discuss their circumstances with their employers.
Application Deadlines (If Applicable)
N/A
Contact for More Information
List of Additional Information
© 2021 Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. This does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. In some jurisdictions, this publication may be considered attorney advertising. Past representations are no guarantee of future outcomes.