Hello all. Here’s the story: I was supposed to work at a 10-day camp. I got sick and tested positive for Covid the first Thursday (the morning before work), and several other staff and campers soon followed suit. I couldn’t work that Thursday or Friday, but they continued to try to keep camp going to the best of their abilities despite their dwindling numbers.
That weekend, the higher ups realized they would have to shut down the camp (so no second week). They called us and apologized for how things went. To compensate us for the inconvenience of being out of work for that second week, they offered all of us two days’ pay. They made it VERY clear that this pay is meant to be a gesture of good will to partially compensate us for the lost week’s wages, NOT to reimburse me for the two days I was out during our first week.
I think it’s great they’re giving us SOMETHING for our trouble, but I’ve been reading up on my rights and I’m pretty sure I’m entitled to also receive compensation for the two days I was out with Covid. If an employer has more than 26 employees (and I’m sure we do), those employees are able to receive paid leave for Covid.
Am I misunderstanding something? I’ve been texting with the person in charge of payroll, and she says they have a “small business” exemption that excuses them from following this law. I asked if we have fewer than 26 employees, and she tried to call me. I told her I’d prefer to keep communicating via text and email for our records.
I’m getting the sense she thinks I’m being greedy. They are paying us for two days we didn’t work, but it’s my understanding that this is a “gift” (for lack of a better word) for the inconvenience of losing our jobs for that second half of camp. I will graciously that, but it doesn’t change the fact that I am owed pay for that Thursday and Friday.
Unless I’m in the wrong! Idk, that’s why I can here. Do I have a case?