To address the economic turmoil caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Mercer is urging Congress and the Trump administration to respond swiftly with more healthcare and paid leave legislation and regulatory guidance for American workers and their families. In a letter to key policymakers, Mercer President and CEO Martine Ferland commended the response to date, but said it’s “critical that Congress and the administration turn next to a package to help affected employers provide additional assistance to their employees.”
While the just-enacted Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) (Pub. L. No. 116-127) incorporates many of Ferland’s recommendations, her letter advocates additional healthcare and paid leave measures for employees and plan sponsors, including:
Congress and the Trump administration are actively considering these issues as part of potential new guidance and a “Phase 3” economic aid package that could soon become law. The Department of Labor (DOL) has also launched a website soliciting input on guidance employers need to implement the FFCRA’s emergency paid leave requirements. The deadline for comments is March 29.
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