Poland trustees extend COVID-19 benefits to first responders

POLAND — The federal Coronavirus Response Act allows employers to exclude first responders from new benefits, but Poland Township trustees want to ensure that local police are able to care for their families during the pandemic.

Trustees passed a resolution today (April 3) enabling "emergency responders" to apply for benefits under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, which provides up to 80 hours of paid sick leave.

"If one of our people gets this — or their wife, their kid, someone they're taking care of — we're going to grant them this," said Trustee Eric Ungaro.

In order to apply for the expanded benefits, the employee or a family member must have tested positive for COVID-19. The resolution applies through Dec. 31.

"I just think families are going through enough struggle. To throw an extra burden didn't make sense to us," said Ungaro. "The trustees unanimously felt that we wanted to take care of our officers and their families."

"It's the right thing to do."

This story was originally published April 3, 2020 at 1:39 PM with the headline "Poland trustees extend COVID-19 benefits to first responders."