District of Columbia DCFMLA Public Health Emergency (COVID-19): Temporary Amendment Poster

DC Family and Medical Leave Act during COVID-19	
- Temporary “Declaration of Emergency Leave during Declared Public Health Emergency -	
ohr.dc.gov      phone: (202) 727-4559     fax: (202) 727-9589      441 4th Street NW, Suit e 570N, Washington, DC 20001	
Filing a Complaint of a Violation	
If you believe an employer has wrongfully denied you “declaration of emergency” 
leave, family leave, medical leave, or retaliated against you under this statute, you 
can file a complaint within one year of the incident with the Office of Human Rights 
(OHR). To file a complaint, visit ohr.dc.gov or email the complaint to [email protected]
dc.gov .  
Questions about the OHR process can also be answered by phone at (202) 727-4559 
or via email at [email protected] .	
EMPLOYER POSTING REQUIREMENTS 
The employer must post and maintain this notice in a conspicuous place. An employer that willfully fails to 
post this notice may be ordered to pay a fine of up to $100 for each day the employer fails to post the notice. 
On March 17, 2020, the Mayor signed the COVID-19 Response Emergency Amendment Act (CREA), which 
temporarily amends the D.C. Family and Medical Leave Act (DCFMLA) to expand leave coverage during a public 
health emergency for employees working in the District of Columbia. The amendments take effect from  March 
17, 2020 to June 15, 2020.  
KEY PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDMENTS TO THE DCFMLA 	
1.  Waiver of Certain Requirements (D.C. Code § 32-501(1)):  During a public health emergency declared 
by the Mayor, when requesting leave under the DCFMLA, an employee need not have worked for the 
employer for 1,000 hours in the past year or have one year of continuous service, if the employee has 
been ordered or recommended to self-quarantine or isolate by a medical professional, the Department 
of Health, or other District or federal agency.
2.  Creation of “Declaration of Emergency” (DOE) Leave (D.C. Code § 32-502.01): A new section is added to 
the DCFMLA providing that during a public health emergency declared by the Mayor, if an employee is 
unable to work due to the circumstances giving rise to the public health emergency, the employee may 
request for “declaration of emergency” leave during the declared public health emergency period.
3.  Applicability for DOE Leave (D.C. Code § 32-516): During a public health emergency declared by the 
Mayor, for the DOE leave, the benefit applies to employees working for an employer of any size (1 or 
more employees in the District of Columbia).
4.  Certification (D.C. Code § 32-502.01):  For DOE Leave, recommendation from the Mayor, Department of 
Health, medical professional, or other District or federal agency that the employee self-quarantine 
or isolate is sufficient; for government mandated quarantine or isolation, the declaration of public 
health emergency shall serve as certification.	
Released April 20, 2020