Time Off Options for Staff Due to COVID-19

Various time off benefits are available for employees due to their conditions and needs with the coronavirus. The information below is organized based on possible circumstances.

Flexible work options are available. Managers and staff should work together to assess and agree to an employee’s flexible work arrangement. For more information, refer to policy 5.1.4 Flexible Work Arrangements.

Employee Condition:

1. Tested positive for COVID-19, isolation requirement of less than 8 days, AND unable to perform job duties from home

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: HR Policy & Procedures Manual

2. Tested positive for COVID-19, symptoms are not resolving (fever within 24 hours or other persistent symptoms such as chills, cough, shortness of breath, etc.), a doctor certifies that the employee is unable to perform their job for 8 consecutive days or longer, AND unable to perform job duties from home

First Option: Use Short Term Disability
- Submit Short Term Disability Application
- Casual employees may be eligible
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.10 Short Term Disability Supplemental Pay

3. Has symptoms of COVID-19 for 8 or more consecutive days AND is unable to perform job duties from home

First Option: Use Short Term Disability
- Submit Short Term Disability Application
- Casual employees may be eligible
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.10 Short Term Disability Supplemental Pay

4. Was exposed AND is not sick AND is advised to self-quarantine for 8 or more consecutive days by a healthcare provider/Occupational Health Services AND is unable to perform job duties from home

First Option: Use Short Term Disability
- Email the Benefits Team with the date of the first day of self-quarantine
- Casual employees may be eligible
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.10 Short Term Disability Supplemental Pay

5. Has symptoms of COVID-19 for less than 8 consecutive days or advised to self-quarantine

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Third Option: Use unpaid leave of absence form/Public Health Emergency reason code

6. Cannot work since school or daycare closed

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Use Unpaid Leave of Absence Form
- Up to one month
- May be eligible for state unemployment benefits

7. Is caring for a sick or exposed family member

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days
- Then use Paid Family Leave Policy days
  - Requires:
    - Supervisory approval
    - Submit Certification of Healthcare Provider form
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Third Option: Use New Jersey Family Leave Insurance after paid time off is exhausted or in lieu of using paid time off
- Available to employees with no available paid time off or in lieu of using paid time off
- Employee applies directly to State of New Jersey
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.12 Paid Family Leave, HR Policy & Procedures Manual

8. Is in a high-risk group as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) AND advised by a healthcare provider to self-quarantine at home AND cannot work from home because job duties have to be performed on campus

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires a doctor’s note that confirms the individual is high risk as defined by the CDC but does not include the actual high-risk category in accordance with medical confidentiality and privacy laws
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days, HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires a doctor’s note that confirms the individual is high risk as defined by the CDC but does not include the actual high-risk category in accordance with medical confidentiality and privacy laws
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Third Option: See #13

9. Is in a high-risk group as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) AND is seeking workplace accommodation

First Option: Work with department and HR for expedited accommodations discussion
- Requires a doctor’s note that confirms the individual is high risk as defined by the CDC but does not include the actual high-risk category in accordance with medical confidentiality and privacy laws
- Applies to benefits-eligible and casual employees
- Learn more: Policy 5.1.7 Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities
Second Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires a doctor’s note that confirms the individual is high risk as defined by the CDC but does not include the actual high-risk category in accordance with medical confidentiality and privacy laws
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days
Third Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

10. Family member is high-risk as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) but does not require specific care as certified by a healthcare provider

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter in Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days, HR Policy & Procedures Manual
Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time
- Requires supervisory approval
- Enter into Time & Absence Management
- Learn more: Policy 3.1.13 COVID-19 Days, HR Policy & Procedures Manual

11. Is biweekly-paid AND released from working onsite for all or part of the work time AND is unable to perform work duties from home as duties have to be performed on campus AND/OR may be on a rotational work schedule on campus

First Option: Use Public Health Emergency/RFWPH reason code
- Requires supervisory approval in Time & Absence Managemen

12. Is monthly-paid or biweekly-paid AND is unable to perform work duties from home as duties have to be performed on campus AND is in a high-risk group as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) but is not placed on disability by a healthcare provider AND has used all available paid time off

First Option: Discussion between supervisor, senior HR manager, and employee to determine next steps
Second Option: Use unpaid leave of absence form/Public Health Emergency reason code if operationally feasible
- Requires supervisory approval and is for a total of no more than one month if approved
Third Option: If no documented medical reason is communicated, after the one month of unpaid leave, the employee would be terminated

13. Is paid time available to go get COVID-19 vaccines?

Employees may use COVID-19 Days or other paid time leave options, such as sick, vacation, or bundled time. Refer to Princeton COVID Resources for information regarding vaccination clinics at the University.

Questions?

For questions about Short Term Disability and New Jersey Family Leave Insurance, contact the Benefits Team at (609) 258-3302 or [email protected].

For all other questions, contact the senior HR manager.

Helpful Links

COVID-19 Testing Locations & Resources

Benefits Updates During COVID-19

Learning & Development Updates During COVID-19

Time Off Options for Staff Due to COVID-19

Employee Condition:

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

First Option: Use Short Term Disability

First Option: Use Short Term Disability

First Option: Use Short Term Disability

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

Third Option: Use unpaid leave of absence form/Public Health Emergency reason code

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

Use Unpaid Leave of Absence Form

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

Third Option: Use New Jersey Family Leave Insurance after paid time off is exhausted or in lieu of using paid time off

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

Third Option: See #13

First Option: Work with department and HR for expedited accommodations discussion

Second Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Third Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

First Option: Use COVID-19 Days

Second Option: Use paid leave days, including sick, vacation, personal, and/or bundled time

First Option: Use Public Health Emergency/RFWPH reason code

First Option: Discussion between supervisor, senior HR manager, and employee to determine next steps

Second Option: Use unpaid leave of absence form/Public Health Emergency reason code if operationally feasible

Third Option: If no documented medical reason is communicated, after the one month of unpaid leave, the employee would be terminated

Questions?

Related Policies

Related Documents

Helpful Links