Q12 – If I choose to stay home, what are my options for getting paid?

Posted on by Chris Yard

There are a number of options available to get paid if you are out of work. They include some options as part of new federal COVID-19 aid packages. Things continue to evolve and we will provide updates as new information is available.

Current pay options are:

  • Use your available vacation time
  • Use your available earned time, which includes 40 hours of advanced earned time
  • Use paid sick time (See below for a summary of this option)
  • Use paid extended family and medical leave (See below for a summary of this option)

Summary of paid sick time option: (NOTE: This is just a summary, your actual eligibility and pay will be based on the full scope of the law which can be found here.)

  • Up to 80 hrs of available paid sick time
  • Any available paid sick time is in addition to Mercury’s regular earned time hours
  • You are eligible if you are unable to work (or work remotely) due to:
    1. Quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19
    2. Self-quarantine related to COVID-19, at the advice of a health care provider
    3. Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis
    4. Caring for an individual who is subject to case (1) or (2) above
    5. Caring for a child whose school or child care is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19
    6. Experiencing any other substantially-similar condition as specified in the full law
  • If you are eligible based on cases (1), (2) or (3) above, you will be paid at your regular hourly rate
  • If you are eligible based on cases (4), (5) or (6) above, you will be paid at 66% of your regular hourly rate

Summary of paid extended family and medical leave option: (NOTE: This is just a summary, your actual eligibility and pay will be based on the full scope of the law which can be found here.)

  • Effective starting April 1stUp to 12 weeks of available leave
  • You are eligible if:
    • You have been a team member for at least 30 days
    • You are caring for a child whose school or child care is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19
  • The first 2 weeks are unpaid (during which you may use paid sick time)
  • The next 10 weeks are paid at 40 hours per week at 66% of your regular hourly rate