Dear USF employees,
Thank you for all you are doing to help USF maintain business and academic continuity during this unprecedented time of uncertainty. Our leadership team is committed to proving you with timely updates and important resources as we navigate this challenge together.
Over the past week, we have received new guidance from both local officials and the federal government that have implications on our employment practices. This includes new “Safer at Home” ordinances locally, as well as changes to employee paid leave rights at the federal level.
“Safer at Home”
In light of the significant health risk posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, Pinellas County and Hillsborough County passed a “safer at home” directives, asking all county residents to remain at home except for essential activities such as trips for groceries, medical needs and jobs that are deemed critical. This directive aligns with the March 13 guidance from President Currall, which instructed any USF employees who can work remotely to do so. The Pinellas County order was effective as of Thursday, March 26, at noon. The Hillsborough County order is effective as of Friday, March 27, at midnight.
According to the ordinances, essential businesses, which includes state educational institutions like USF, are allowed to continue internal and minimum basic operations as long as they follow the Center for Disease Control’s social distancing guidance (six feet of separation from others and no group gatherings of more than 10). Nevertheless, remote work is preferred if possible, per President Currall’s directive.
Employees whose job duties do not allow for remote work should coordinate with their supervisors to design on- or off-campus work arrangements that fulfill their obligations while complying with CDC social distancing guidance and protecting their health, as well as the health of others.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act: Employee Paid Leave Rights
The newly passed federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provides employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Under these new guidelines, employees are eligible for two weeks of paid sick time for specified reasons related to COVID-19. Employees employed for at least 30 days are eligible for up to an additional 10 weeks of paid family leave to care for a child under certain circumstances related to COVID-19.
An employee qualifies for paid sick time if the employee is unable to work (or unable to telework) because 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 related to COVID-19;
- is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
- is caring for an individual subject to an order described in (1) or self-quarantine as described in (2);
- is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or
- is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Treasury.
Entitlements are subject to whether an employee is full-time and/or part-time, and monetary caps apply.
Find additional information and frequently asked questions here. If you have additional questions, and to determine your eligibility under this new act, please contact the Division of Human Resources Employee Relations team at employee-relations@usf.edu or your Regional HR Office or USF Health HR Office.
The health and safety of our university community remains our first priority, and we appreciate your continued patience, adaptability and understanding.