Over the last week, we have received several questions from AAA members about various COVID-19 impacts on EMS organizations. As the infection numbers around the country are on the rise, many new issues have arisen that are posing issues with many EMS employers. Travel Orders What can I do when our employee voluntarily chooses to travel out of state and, due to state level travel orders which require mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon their return, the employee cannot work and is seeking to be paid emergency leave under the Families First Coronavirus Act (FFCRA) or take additional unpaid leave during the quarantine period? As an employer, you have several options. One of the most important things to know is that your employee does have to abide by any federal, state, or local quarantine order. However, this does not mean that the employer is helpless in addressing this the issue of employee voluntary travel. The last few months have been incredibly trying on all of us, particularly those who are on the front lines battling the COVID-19 pandemic, it is understandable that employees are looking to take vacations out of state. While this is understandable, the employee is still making...
