Employers in Puerto Rico may have to allow some employees time off to vote on Election Day. Our colleagues Juan Felipe Santos, Ana B. Rosado-Frontanés & Marcia C. Laurido Soto provide important reminders for Puerto Rico employers here.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Special Paid Leave Activated for Dengue Fever State of Emergency
By Ana B. Rosado-Frontanés & Carlos J. Saavedra-Gutiérrez on
Posted in Leave
The Puerto Rico Secretary of Health issued Administrative Order No. 2024-589, declaring a public health emergency due to the prevalence of cases of dengue fever on the Island. Administrative Order No. 2024-589, signed on March 25, 2024, went into effect immediately and will last for 90 days or until June 23, 2024, unless its duration…
Puerto Rico Five-Day Paid Leave for COVID-19 Ends as Governor Ends Related State of Emergency
By Juan Felipe Santos, Ana B. Rosado-Frontanés & Marcia C. Laurido Soto on
Posted in COVID-19
The governor of Puerto Rico has issued Executive Order No. OE-2023-012, ending the state of emergency declared in 2020 due to the pandemic caused by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and repealing multiple Executive Orders issued to adopt preventive measures because of COVID-19. OE-2023-012, signed on May 11, 2023, went into effect immediately.
Read more here
Federal Court Strikes Down Amendments to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Law Reform
Posted in Paid Sick Leave
Less than a year after its enactment, a federal district court has declared null and void Puerto Rico Act 41-2022, a law that rolled back parts of the 2017 employment law reform. Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico v. Pierluisi Urrutia, No. 17 BK 3283-LTS (D. P.R. March 3, 2023). Accordingly…
Puerto Rico Enacts Five-Day Paid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness
Puerto Rico’s Law 37-2020 provides certain employees up to five days of paid leave once they exhaust other paid leave. Law 37-2020 amends Puerto Rico Law 180-1998, which establishes paid sick and vacation leave benefits for some private sector employees, excluding employees classified as executives, administrators, and professionals, among others. The new law is effective…
Puerto Rico Senate Considers Unpaid Emergency Leave for Pandemic Illness
Posted in Leave, Paid Sick Leave
Following the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the World Health Organization’s declaration of a pandemic, on March 12, 2020, the Puerto Rico House of Representatives approved House Bill 2428 to establish a new unpaid emergency leave of 20 days for employees with a suspected or actual diagnosis of a pandemic illness.
HB 2428 seeks…
Puerto Rico Enacts Leave for Victims of Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment and Assault
Employees in Puerto Rico may take up to 15 days of unpaid leave each calendar year to address situations related to domestic or gender-based violence, child abuse, sexual harassment in employment, sexual assault, lewd acts, or felony stalking under a new law. The new “Special Leave” is in addition to any other leave to which…