COVID-19 SUT 23 – ALL EMPLOYEES: Families First Coronavirus Response Act – 04.02.2020
2
Family Medical Leave Act Expansion
Employees may also use Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care for
children under 18 whose school or place of care is closed due to COVID-19.
This entitlement is available to career and non-career employees after 30
days of employment.
• As with other qualifying reasons, an employee who is eligible for this
type of leave can take up to 12 weeks of FMLA protected leave in a
calendar year. If an employee has already exhausted all 12 weeks for
a different qualifying reason, no additional FMLA leave is provided
under this Act.
• The first 2 weeks of this leave are unpaid, unless an employee
chooses to substitute other types of paid leave.
• The following 10 weeks will be paid leave at 2/3 of an employee’s
normal pay, but in no event more than $200 a day, or $10,000 in the
aggregate.
Both leave entitlement types can be used sequentially to avoid 2 weeks of
unpaid leave if employees elect to do so.
This legislation is meant to ensure that workers are not forced to choose
between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat
the COVID-19 virus. Your health and well-being are our top priority.
Additional details about the act’s provisions and other COVID-19 information
can be found on the special COVID-19 pages of our internal website, Blue,
and our employee website, LiteBlue. For additional questions please contact
the HR Shared Service Center at 1-877-477-3273 and select Option 5.
Stay safe. Thank you for listening, and thank you for your professionalism,
commitment, and for all you do for our customers, your co-workers and the
Postal Service.
# # #