Covid-19 Leave

Covid-19 Leave Plan Information

Miami University has voluntarily established a paid leave plan effective January 1, 2021 for all employees to cover gaps created by the end of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) paid leaves and to protect the campus community against the spread of COVID-19.

All faculty and staff (full-time, part-time) who are unable to work (including remote work) due to a qualifying reason related to COVID-19 may take paid leave as outlined below.

Qualifying Reasons:

  • Employee is diagnosed COVID-19 positive and is subject to an isolation order;
  • Employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis and/or COVID-19 testing for confirmation;
  • Employee is a close contact with an infected individual within their own household and is subject to a quarantine order;
  • Employee is a close contact with an infected individual outside their household (including workplace exposure) and is subject to a quarantine order;
  • Employee received a COVID-19 vaccination within the last two weeks (14-day period) and is experiencing side effects from the COVID-19 vaccine; or
  • Employee has been instructed by a University COVID-19 Support Program case manager to isolate or quarantine for any other reason not referenced above.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much leave is available?

For full-time employees, up to 5 consecutive working days or 40 consecutive regularly scheduled work hours.

  • Part-time leave is pro-rated.
  • Intermittent leave is not permitted.
  • Employees are not required to use other available paid leave before using COVID-19 Leave.

What paid leave benefits does COVID-19 Leave provide?

Miami COVID-19 Leave is paid at two-thirds of the employee’s regular rate of pay. There are no daily caps and no aggregate maximums. For example, an employee who is normally paid $100 per day will be paid $66.70 per day if approved to receive Covid-19 Leave due to a qualifying reason related to COVID-19.

Can an employee supplement the remaining one-third of the employee’s regular rate of pay with other accrued leave?

Yes. An employee may elect to supplement the remaining one-third pay with accrued sick leave, vacation leave and/or compensatory time, if available.

This means classified employees will receive partial paid leave (e.g., $66.70 per day for COVID-19  Leave plus $33.30 in equivalent accrued leave time to receive 100% pay or $100 per day).

For unclassified staff to receive full pay, employees will be charged accrued leave up to the nearest ½-day increment (e.g. 3.5 days for a 10-day absence).

If an employee elects to supplement with accrued leave time, the one-third calculation will be administered by Payroll.

How do I get approved for the COVID-19 Leave?

In order to qualify for the leave, the employee must report their absence due to COVID-19 using the University’s Electronic Absence Reporting portal.

What documentation is required to use the leave?

Employees need only complete the University’s Electronic Absence Reporting

How many times can I use this leave?

This leave may only be used once unless there is a repeated exposure in the workplace and the University directs you to remain off work.

Can an employee use COVID-19 Leave if the employee declined a COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. Vaccination is not required for employment at this time. Information on available vaccines to aid in the decision making process can be found on the FDA’s websiteCDC’s website and ODH’s website. If an employee is offered access to a vaccine and declines it, but later experiences one of the qualifying reasons for leave listed above then the employee may request COVID-19 Leave at that time.

Is COVID leave available to an employee who is caring for a child(ren) under 18 years old whose physical school building or place of care has been closed, or the childcare provider of child(ren) is unavailable, due to COVID–19 precautions?

No. Employees are expected to have already made adequate childcare arrangements.

When will this program end?

The COVID-19 Leave program will end no later than June 30, 2022; however, it may be canceled, suspended or modified at an earlier time in the University's sole discretion (e.g., when vaccines are widely available and community spread ceases to be a major public health concern).

Contact Employee and Labor Relations with any questions.

Marquetta Carmichael
carmicm@miamioh.edu
513-529-0432

Lauran Franklin
franklln@miamioh.edu
513-529-9551

Becky Wilp
Becky.Wilp@miamioh.edu
513-529-2684