Colorado Amends Virus Emergency Paid-Sick Leave Rule

Colorado retail grocers and those quarantined or in self-isolation because of coronavirus concerns are covered under updates to emergency paid sick-leave rules announced March 26 by the state labor and employment department.

Grocers are covered under amendments made to the state Health Emergency Leave With Pay rules that require employers to provide up to four paid sick-leave days to employees with flu-like symptoms and who were tested for Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus.

Employees “under instructions from a health-care provider to quarantine or isolate due to a risk of having Covid-19" are covered under the amended rules.

The rules, originally adopted March 11, apply to employers in the sectors of leisure and hospitality, food services, child care, education, home health care, nursing homes, and community-living facilities.

The updated rules were in effect effect March 26, 2020, for at least 30 days, or longer if the state of emergency declared March 10 by Gov. Jared Polis (D) continues for up to 120 days.

The state Department of Labor and Employment maintains a webpage with the rules and related documents.