# What Kind of Documentation Can An Employer Request in Support of a COVID-19 Leave Request? Written on April 02, 2020. *Tag(s):* [COVID-19](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_tags&view=tag&id%5B0%5D=20:covid-19) One of the many questions employers have had about the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA) is this: what kind of documentation can they request from employees to justify a request for paid leave or extended family and medical leave? In a perfect world, an employer can take an employee at his/her word that he/she meets one of the qualifications for leave. But let’s face it—we don’t live in a perfect world, so it is reasonable for an employer to request some kind of evidence to justify an employee’s request for leave. So what can an employer ask its employees to provide by way of proof of a need for leave? The Department of Labor (DOL) issued a Temporary Regulation on April 1 to help answer that question. An employee must provide his or her employer documentation in support of paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave. As provided in § 826.100, such documentation must include a signed statement containing the following information: (1) the employee’s name; (2) the date(s) for which leave is requested; (3) the COVID-19 qualifying reason for leave; and (4) a statement representing that the employee is unable to work or telework because of the COVID-19 qualifying reason. Furthermore, an employee must provide the following additional documentation depending on the COVID-19 qualifying reason for leave. - An employee requesting paid sick leave under § 826.20(a)(1)(i) (Employee is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19) must provide the name of the government entity that issued the quarantine or isolation order to which the employee is subject. - An employee requesting paid sick leave under § 826.20(a)(1)(ii) (Employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19) must provide the name of the health care provider who advised him or her to self-quarantine for COVID-19 related reasons. - An employee requesting paid sick leave under § 826.20(a)(1)(iv) (Employee is caring for an individual who is subject to a Federal, State, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19 or directed to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID-19) to care for an individual must provide either (1) the government entity that issued the quarantine or isolation order to which the individual is subject or (2) the name of the health care provider who advised the individual to self-quarantine, depending on the precise reason for the request. - An employee requesting to take paid sick leave under § 826.20(a)(1)(v) (Employee is caring for his or her Son or Daughter whose School or Place of Care has been closed for a period of time, whether by order of a State or local official or authority or at the decision of the individual School or Place of Care, or the Child Care Provider of such Son or Daughter is unavailable, for reasons related to COVID-19) or expanded family and medical leave to care for his or her child must provide the following information: (1) the name of the child being care for; (2) the name of the school, place of care, or child care provider that closed or became unavailable due to COVID-19 reasons; and (3) a statement representing that no other suitable person is available to care for the child during the period of requested leave. For leave taken under the FMLA for an employee’s own serious health condition related to COVID-19, or to care for the employee’s spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition related to COVID-19, the normal FMLA certification requirements still apply. - [](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fwhat-kind-of-documentation-can-an-employer-request-in-support-of-a-covid-19-leave-request.md&text=) - [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fwhat-kind-of-documentation-can-an-employer-request-in-support-of-a-covid-19-leave-request.md) - [](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimlaw.com%2Farticles%2Fwhat-kind-of-documentation-can-an-employer-request-in-support-of-a-covid-19-leave-request.md) - [](mailto:?subject=What%20Kind%20of%20Documentation%20Can%20An%20Employer%20Request%20in%20Support%20of%20a%20COVID-19%20Leave%20Request%3F) ![Kathleen J. Jennings](https://wimlaw.com/images/resources/articles/2020/06/kathleen-portrait-300.jpg) Kathleen J. Jennings Former Principal Kathleen J. Jennings is a former principal in the Atlanta office of Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider, & Stine, P.C. She defends employers in employment matters, such as sexual harassment, discrimination, Wage and Hour, OSHA, restrictive covenants, and other employment litigation and provides training and counseling to employers in employment matters. ## Related Content [ ![typewriter, cancel](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/7a/markus-winkler-7EwWeNyzSwQ-unsplash-7a404210.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1466:trump-cancels-minimum-wage-federal-contractors&catid=53) ### [Trump Executive Order Cancels a $17.75 Minimum Wage for Federal Contractors](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1466:trump-cancels-minimum-wage-federal-contractors&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1466:trump-cancels-minimum-wage-federal-contractors&catid=53) [ ![covid 19 virus, concept](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/5d/covid-fusion-medical-animation-rnr8D3FNUNY-unsplash-5d7c549c.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1307:covid-19-emergency-benefit-adjustments&catid=53) ### [Benefit Adjustments When COVID-19 Emergency Ends](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1307:covid-19-emergency-benefit-adjustments&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1307:covid-19-emergency-benefit-adjustments&catid=53) [ ![Laboratory technician monitoring environment in lab](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/ec/wouter-lemmens-pEqcBU6yU1Y-unsplash-ecb687a3.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1285:covid-guidance-2022&catid=53) ### [Updated CDC Guidance on Covid-19 Shifts Focus Away from Employer](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1285:covid-guidance-2022&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1285:covid-guidance-2022&catid=53) ## Get Email Updates Receive newsletters and alerts directly in your email inbox. Sign up below. ## Recent Content [ Articles ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=205) [ ![chaotic light lines](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/33/soheb-zaidi-yuv1FPyZdR0-unsplash-33611845.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52)### [TPS UPDATE! Termination of TPS Status for Haitians, Syrians, Somalians, South Sudanese, Yemeni, Ethiopians, and Burmese](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52) [Alerts](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=52) On July 10, 2026, E-Verify notified employers that work authorization is extended temporarily through July 24, 2026, for workers from the f… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1604:termination-tps-status-july-10-update&catid=52) [ ![connected spheres](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/12/d-koi-COFXWa6LJdw-unsplash-12ea6ce5.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53)### [DOL Issues New Joint Employer Rule Proposal](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced on April 22, 2026, a new proposed rule clarifying when multiple employers are jointly liable f… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1598:dol-joint-employer-rule&catid=53) [ ![plaintiff sign](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/89/wesley-tingey-mlGJB5D9IS0-unsplash-898571c2.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53)### [The Supreme Court Again Addresses Whether Drivers Are Exempt from FAA Arbitration Agreements ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) The Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) encourages the use and enforcement of arbitration agreements, although the Act contains an exception for… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1599:scotus-drivers-exempt-faa-arbitration&catid=53) [ ![3](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/a0/marcel-eberle-FGYv8CDQBmg-unsplash-a0ece82f.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53)### [Trump Nominates Third NLRB Member, Whose Confirmation Signals Potential for Change ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) On April 13, 2026, President Trump nominated James Macy to fill the third vacant Republican seat on the National Labor Relations Board (NLR… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1600:nlrb-member-trump-nominee-change&catid=53) [ ![deception](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/3e/mick-haupt-2vCvnNhsi6E-unsplash-3e10d265.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53)### [Defendant Sues Plaintiff Over “Fabricated” Sex Harassment Claims](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) An employer official named in a graphic sexual harassment suit brought a counter-claim against her accuser for defamation, calling his alle… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1601:defendant-sues-plaintiff-fabricated-sex-harassment&catid=53) [ ![pointing to computer](https://wimlaw.com/media/yootheme/cache/07/john-FlPc9_VocJ4-unsplash-07928d89.jpg) ](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53)### [Federal Workers to Get New and Tougher Performance Reviews](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53) [Employment Law Newsletter: A Monthly Report On Labor Law Issues](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=53) No personnel issues have been debated longer and more thoroughly than that of the utility of performance reviews. Some argue that such rev… [Read more](https://wimlaw.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1602:federal-workers-tougher-performance-reviews&catid=53) ### Additional Legal Resources [### Newsletter Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/publications/newsletters) [### Books Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/publications/books) [### Alerts Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/alerts) [### Articles Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/articles) [### Audits Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/audits) [### Events Explore ](https://wimlaw.com/events)