There have been a lot of questions about the Leave of Absence policy due to COVID-19. Below is an excerpt from the Reopening Schools Employee Handbook along with a chart that NYSUT has provided that lays out the policy.
New York's COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave Law provides fourteen (14) days of paid sick leave without a charge against accruals. Employees are eligible for this leave because of a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by New York State (unless for travel to designated states (see Travel Advisory)), the Department of Health, a local board of health, or other government entity authorized to issue such order due to COVID 19.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act provides full-time employees two weeks of paid leave, up to 80 hours. Part-time employees are entitled to two weeks of paid leave, based on the number of hours the employee works on average over a two week period. If the employee is subject:
- to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID 19,
- has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related to COVID 19, or
- the employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID 19 and seeking a medical diagnosis,
the rate of pay shall be based upon the number of hours the employee would otherwise normally be scheduled to work, except that it shall not exceed $511 per day and $5,110 in total for the duration of the leave. Employees must provide documentation of the above conditions.
If the employee is caring for an individual subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID 19,
- is caring for his or her child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provide is
- unavailable) due to COVID 19 related reasons
- is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services,
the employee is due two-thirds (2/3) of the required rate of pay with total pay capped at $200 per day or $2,000 in total. Employees can use accrued leave time to maintain full pay. Employees must provide documentation of the above conditions.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act provides leave for employees to care for his or her son or daughter whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to COVID 19 related reasons. The
employee is due up to 12 workweeks for job-protected leave, with continuation of health insurance. The first two weeks are unpaid. The remaining 10 weeks are paid at two-thirds (2/3) the employee's regular
rate of pay with total pay capped at $200 per day or $10,000 total.
Employees must provide documentation that his or her son or daughter's school or place of care is closed.
The application for the FFCRA leaves can be found on pages 10 - 11.
Contractual Unpaid Leave of Absence will be provided by terms and conditions of the relevant Collective Bargaining Agreement, if eligible.
If you feel that you need to take a leave, contact the Office of Human Resources immediately.
Instructional staff should contact (631) 930-1562. Non-instructional staff should contact (631) 930- 1563.
Click here and go to pages 10-11 for the application for the FFCRA leaves. This is the form you would have to fill out to take this leave.
