6. Are Temporary or Seasonal Employees Eligible to Receive this Leave?
Yes, provided they are in paid status between April 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Archives: FAQs
5. How is leave calculated for part-time employees?
For part-time employees, the City will base leave on the number of hours an employee is normally scheduled to work. If the City cannot confirm these hours for any reason, the City will use a six-month period to average the daily hours.
4. When do I become eligible for this leave?
Employees become eligible after 30 calendar days of employment. “Calendar days means” an employee has been on the payroll for 30 calendar days immediately prior to the day the leave starts (e.g., for an April 1, 2020 leave request, the employee would have been on the payroll since March 2, 2020). Note: This paid leave … Continued
3. Is the leave paid or unpaid?
The leave is technically both: The first 10 days of the public health emergency FMLA leave is unpaid, unless the employee uses their own leave accruals and/or are eligible for Emergency Sick Leave to use in order to be paid for the first 10 days. After that, the City will provide: Paid leave in an … Continued
2. What does a “qualifying need related to a public health emergency” mean?
It means that if an employee is unable to work (or telework) due to a need to care for the employee’s child because the child’s elementary or secondary school or place of care or childcare provider has been closed due to a public health emergency.
1. Will this new section change any previously existing terms or definitions under the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”)?
No. The FMLA’s terms and definitions remain the same. The new law simply adds a provision that addresses the unique needs of the COVID-19 pandemic. As of April 1st, City employees may take FMLA leave for “a qualifying need related to a public health emergency” (i.e., the coronavirus). Meanwhile, other qualifying reasons for FMLA leave … Continued
No Personal Email Addresses for City Business
As a reminder, all City business (including the review and acknowledgment of forms) is to be conducted using only City email addresses.
Telecommuting/Telework/Remote Work
Employees wishing to work remotely during the shelter-in-place order should review the Telework Guidelines and Agreement and submit a request to their supervisor. If approved, employees should use the Telework Time Tracking Tool to report their work assignments and progress on a regular basis to their supervisor. Unfortunately, temp/seasonal employees are not eligible to participate … Continued
Employees Who Have Exhausted Leave
If an employee is unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19, they may be eligible for payments from SDI (State Disability Insurance). SDI provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. If an employee is … Continued
Employees who decide to self-quarantine (individually directed)
If an employee is concerned about potential exposure to COVID-19 but has not been advised or ordered to quarantine by a medical professional or authorized government authority, they can use vacation and/or other available paid leave (comp, sick, etc).