UW-Green Bay announces COVID-19 leave for employees

In accordance with SYS 1200-Interim 02, COVID-19 Leave Policy, up to 80 hours of COVID-19 leave (prorated by % FTE) may be made available to employees who cannot perform their assigned duties due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This emergency policy implements leave provisions and workplace flexibility options to prioritize the health and safety of the UW System community and provide additional leave for certain UW System employees to be used during the COVID-19 pandemic if employees cannot work.

Employees eligible for COVID-19 leave include those who are unable to work because their job responsibilities are not conducive to remote work (telecommute or telework), self-quarantine, self-isolation, illness, care of an immediate family member, or child/elder care due to school/day care closures. Dean/Division Leaders are working with supervisors to determine which employees are not able to telecommute because of job responsibilities. To request COVID-19 leave based upon an alternative reason (self-quarantine, self-isolation, illness, care of an immediate family member, or child/elder care due to school/day care closures), employees should contact their supervisor.

The use of COVID-19 leave is at the discretion of the Area Leader and employees are subject to recall at any time. In instances where employees are unable to perform their assigned duties due to the type of work they perform but are assigned other duties that CAN be performed remotely, they cannot refuse a reassignment of duties in order to take COVID-19 leave. COVID-19 leave may be approved for intermittent use. Employees who can telecommute but request not to do so (with no alternative reason such as self-quarantine, illness, etc.) are not eligible for COVID-19 leave. If such employees would like to take alternative accrued leave (vacation or personal holiday) or unpaid leave, they must submit a request to their supervisor. Employees deemed “essential” may still be required to report to the workplace and will not be eligible for this leave if they choose not to report.

Details have not been communicated about how COVID-19 leave will be accounted for in HRS. Procedures on how employees should report approved COVID-19 leave through their My UW Portal will be communicated as additional information is available.