Office of Labor Standards Enforcement

The San Francisco Office of Labor Standards Enforcement (OLSE) advances the welfare of San Francisco’s workers through the enforcement of labor laws, proactive public education, and high-quality public service.  OLSE is an office of the General Services Agency, an executive branch department under Mayor London N. Breed. 
 

Coronavirus COVID-19 Guidance and Resources

Emergency Ordinances

Health Plan Requirements for Specified COVID-19 Essential Services Contracts Effective May 13, 2020 - With limited exceptions, City contractors that enter into a COVID-19 essential services contract for food service, delivery of food, janitorial services, or cleaning services must offer their covered employees and covered employees’ dependents health plan benefits that meet the PDF icon minimum standards prepared by the Health Director.  Covered employees are employees that work for 2 hours or more per week on the essential services contract within San Francisco.

These requirements apply to COVID-19 essential services contracts first advertised, selected, or initiated after May 13, 2020.

To read the full Mayoral Directive, click PDF icon here.  For more information, call (415) 554-7903 or email HCAO@sfgov.org.
 

Employee Protections Ordinance - Consistent with health orders for essential businesses, effective May 1, 2020 On-Demand Delivery Services must implement health and safety measures for their employees (including shoppers and drivers), including but not limited to the provision of hand sanitizer, disinfecting cleaning supplies, and any needed personal protective equipment such as gloves and face masks.  On-Demand Delivery Services and other specified employers must also allow employees to use any available accrued paid sick leave or emergency paid sick leave, or where reasonably feasible to reschedule or make up the work without penalty.

For more information, visit OLSE's Employee Protections Ordinance webpage.
 

Public Health Emergency Leave - Effective April 17, 2020, businesses with 500 or more employees worldwide must provide up to 80 hours of paid Public Health Emergency Leave to each employee who performs work in San Francisco.  Employees may use this leave when they are unable to work (or telework) due to specified reasons related to COVID-19.  The leave is in effect only during the local emergency.

If you have questions about the San Francisco Public Health Emergency Leave Ordinance, call OLSE at (415) 554-6271 or email PSL@sfgov.org.
 

Access to Additional Paid Sick Leave Hours

  • On April 16, 2020, Governor Newsom signed an Executive Order providing supplemental paid sick leave for food sector workers who work for a hiring entity that has 500 or more employees nationwide for certain circumstances related to COVID-19. The type of food sector workers the Executive Order covers ranges from farmworkers to those workers who work in the retail food supply chain, including pick-up, delivery, supply, packaging, retail, or preparation. For more information, go to the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement COVID-19 sick leave webpage.
     
  • The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act requires certain employers to provide employees with up to 80 additional hours of paid sick leave and up to 10 weeks of paid family and medical leave for conditions related to the Coronavirus.  These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.  For more information, including fact sheets, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and employer posters, visit the U.S. Department of Labor's COVID-19 and the American Workplace webpage.
     
  • The City will contribute up to 40 hours of additional paid sick leave time to employees beyond existing policies through the Workers and Families First Program. This program provides financial assistance to businesses and nonprofits and may support over 16,000 additional weeks of sick leave pay and coverage for up to 25,000 San Francisco employees working in the city or on City-owned property, including the San Francisco International Airport. All San Francisco businesses are eligible, with up to 20% of funds reserved for small businesses with 50 or fewer employees. Employers may apply through the Office of Economic & Workforce Development here.

OLSE Guidance

Notice -  Pursuant to the Mayor's March 23, 2020 proclamation, the City is cancelling the employer requirement to submit the 2019 Annual Reporting Form for the Health Care Security Ordinance (HCSO) and the Fair Chance Ordinance (FCO).  All other requirements of the HCSO and FCO are still in effect for employers covered by these ordinances.

Worker Resources
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) can assist workers in the following situations:

  • You have been laid off or your hours have been reduced - file an Unemployment Insurance claim
  • You are unable to work because your child’s school is closed, and you have to miss work to be there for them - you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance benefits
  • You are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 - file a Disability Insurance claim
  • You are unable to work because you are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 - file a Paid Family Leave claim

For more information, go to EDD's coronavirus assistance webpage and Frequently Asked Questions.
 

Employer Resources
The San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development (OEWD) is providing guidance and business assistance for employers affected by the current Coronavirus outbreak.

For more information, go to OEWD's coronavirus assistance webpage.
 

 

 

I. San Francisco Labor Laws - City Wide

  

II. San Francisco Labor Laws - City Contractors

All Employers 
 
Employers with 5 or more employees (Total, Across All Locations) 
 
Employers with 20 or more employees (Total, Across All Locations) 
 
Formula Retail Establishments