Spotlight for Recruiting Professionals

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES)—which was recently signed into law by President Donald Trump—provides potential reimbursement to federal contractors whose employees:

• Cannot perform work on a “site that has been approved by the federal government” during the coronavirus pandemic due to facility closures or other restrictions; and
• Cannot telework because their job duties cannot be performed remotely.

As reported by Jackson Lewis, Section 3610 of CARES authorizes—but does not require—agencies to use any available funds appropriated under CARES or other laws to modify affected contracts to reimburse paid leave, including sick leave, a contractor provides to keep its employees or subcontractors “in a ready state.”

This new provision will apply to leave up to “but in no event beyond” September 20, 2020. The authorized reimbursements may cover an average of 40 hours per week per affected employee, “at the minimum applicable contract billing rates.”