Office of Administration announces leave options for employees unable to work or telework
From Governor Tom Wolf:
Dear employees,
The COVID-19 global pandemic has created an unprecedented situation as everyone tries to stop the spread of this virus. I appreciate the shared sacrifice of all 12.8 million Pennsylvanians. As I have said many times, we are all in this together to save lives.
Many of you are working on the front lines of this crisis and others are continuing to telework in order to provide services to the people of Pennsylvania. Our friends and neighbors are depending on us as our nation perseveres to overcome the worst public health emergency of our lifetime.
Today I am extending the Paid Office Closing Leave until April 10, 2020 for staff whose work locations remain closed and are unable to telework. Beginning April 11, employees performing essential services or teleworking will continue to do so, there is no change. The remaining employees will have the option to use their own leave or unpaid leave, while maintaining their health benefits.
This was a difficult decision as our commonwealth faces significant fiscal challenges. I have chosen an alternative to furloughs so each affected employee will keep their health care benefits and has the flexibility to choose from a range of leave options that is best for them.
There is more information below from the Office of Administration.
I look forward to the day when we can be together again – both in our workplaces and our communities.
Sincerely,
Tom Wolf
Governor
From the Office of Administration:
Commonwealth work locations will remain closed until at least until April 30, 2020, in order to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Paid office closings due to COVID-19 will be extended through Friday, April 10, 2020 for employees whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework.
Essential employees assigned to 24/7 facilities and other critical operations should continue to follow specific guidance from their agency supervisory staff with the ultimate goal of maintaining operations.
In accordance with Management Directive 530.17, Partial and Full-Day Closings of State Offices, Section 5(d), absence will be charged for each full day closing beyond April 10, 2020 for employees not reporting to a work location or teleworking.
Employees who are reporting to work or teleworking should continue to do so.
As a reminder, agency management retains the right to designate employees as essential or nonessential, as needed, based on evolving operational needs.
Below is more detailed information for impacted employees.
Employees Who Are Not Working or Not Teleworking
Paid office closings due to COVID-19 will be extended through Friday, April 10, 2020 for employees whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework. This extension applies to employees in all counties whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to work or telework, regardless of the start date of the paid office closing for their work county.
Beginning on April 11, 2020, employees whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework will be required to use their own leave, pursuant to Management Directive 530.17, Partial and Full-Day Closings of State Offices, Section 5(d).
The Administration is committed to supporting employees who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, while continuing to support the operational needs of agencies to provide services to Pennsylvania citizens. Therefore, those employees, whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework, may request to use any of the paid or unpaid leave types listed below for which they are eligible and with supervisory approval, as needed:
• Accrued and anticipated annual leave
• Compensatory leave
• Holiday leave earned from working on a holiday
• Accrued and anticipated sick leave
• Approved leave without pay with benefits
Due to the COVID-19 emergency, commonwealth leave policies prohibiting employees from using paid leave during their first thirty (30) calendar days of employment and prohibiting employees with less than one (1) year of service from using anticipated leave are BOTH SUSPENDED temporarily for those employees whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework. Employees whose work locations remain closed and who are unable to telework are not eligible for the FFCRA leave mentioned below.
If you choose not to use, or are not eligible for, any paid leave benefits, you may be eligible for unemployment compensation benefits. Please contact [email protected]. For additional information, please refer to: https://www.uc.pa.gov/COVID-19/Pages/UC-COVID19-FAQs.aspx.
For more information about this leave, please go to www.oa.pa.gov/covidleave.
A dedicated call center will be available to answer questions about leave options beginning Monday, April 6, 2020 at 717-346-2720. Representatives will be available from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
Employees of the LCB, Attorney General, PGCB, Auditor General and all other agencies not under the Governor’s jurisdiction should contact their local HR office for assistance.
Employees Working or Teleworking
For employees who are currently working or teleworking, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) provides up to 10 days of paid sick leave and up to 10 work weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave for eligible employees based on the type of qualifying event. This additional leave may be at a reduced rate of pay.
For more information about this leave, please go to www.oa.pa.gov/covidleave.
A dedicated call center will be available to answer questions about leave options beginning Monday, April 6, 2020 at 717-346-2720. Representatives will be available from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday.
Employees of the LCB, Attorney General, PGCB, Auditor General and all other agencies not under the Governor’s jurisdiction should contact their local HR office for assistance.