Flood-hit workers can use sick leave and jobless benefits, state says
Colorado's labor department says people in Southwest Colorado who have missed work or lost a job because of the floods may qualify for paid sick leave, unemployment benefits or paid medical leave. Montezuma County shared the notice on Friday.
Workers in Montezuma County who have missed shifts, lost a job or been hurt because of the floods may be able to draw on three state programs, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment says.
Montezuma County shared the department’s notice on its Facebook page on Friday evening, November 13, under the line “Support for workers impacted by the flooding.” The department first posted it on November 10 and keeps the details on a page of its own, Support for Workers Impacted by Southwestern Colorado Flooding.
Paid sick leave
Under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, employers must give workers paid sick leave — at least one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to 48 hours a year. The department says that leave can be used when a worker misses work because of bad weather, a loss of power, heat or water, or an evacuation, or to care for a family member whose school or place of care closed.
Workers who use it are entitled to full pay and to return to work without negative consequences, the department says. This leave comes from the employer, so there is nothing to apply for with the state.
Unemployment insurance
People who lost their jobs because of the flooding, cannot reach their workplace, or whose employer closed may be eligible for unemployment benefits, depending on their circumstances and state law, according to the department.
If the employer plans to reopen, the department may treat the worker as “job-attached,” which means they do not have to search for other work while unemployed. The usual limit for that status is 16 weeks. Workers choose it on the first application and give an estimated date they expect to return. Claims are filed through the state’s unemployment insurance website.
Paid medical leave
The state’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance program, known as FAMLI, offers paid, job-protected leave. The department says a worker who was injured or became ill because of the flooding may qualify for paid medical leave while recovering — including for a mental health condition that needs ongoing care — and may also qualify for paid leave to care for a family member who was hurt or became ill.
The county’s Facebook post was the newest the Current could see on the county’s page on Saturday morning; the page showed only its most recent post.
Sources: Montezuma County’s Facebook page, post shared November 13, 2026; Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, “Support for Workers Impacted by Southwestern Colorado Flooding” (cdle.colorado.gov), read November 14, 2026