The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will take effect on April 1, 2020. The FFCRA seeks to assist employees, including student employees, impacted by COVID-19 and includes two forms of paid leave, even for employees who may not otherwise be eligible for paid leave.
Both paid leave provisions take effect April 1, 2020, and both expire December 31, 2020.
The provisions of the FFCRA are only for those employees who cannot work, including work-from-home, as a result of COVID-19. As directed by Governor Henry McMaster in his executive orders, supervisors should still first offer work-from-home opportunities to employees to the maximum extent possible. Paid leave under the FFCRA will only be available to employees when work-from-home opportunities are not available.
Leave provided under the FFCRA is available to all employees, including those who do not earn other forms of leave. This includes temporary employees and student employees. Employees are eligible to take leave under the EFMLA if they have been employed at least 30 calendar days. Employees are eligible for EPSL from their first day of employment.
Both EFMLA and EPSL will need to be specifically requested by employees using forms provided on HR’s COVID-19 Information for Employees website. Additional guidelines may also be found on the website. Please see the federal poster associated with the FFCRA and feel free to forward related questions to HRHelp@winthrop.edu.
Thank you,
Office of Human Resources, Employee Diversity, and Wellness
Human Resources, Employee Wellness and Diversity revamped and expanded its COVID-19 information. Please see the updated site.
Dear Colleagues,
Our university is committed to limiting the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and keeping our students, faculty, and staff safe. Classes are continuing through remote instruction. Critical work will continue to be done on campus, such as residential housing support, remote instruction support, IT, public safety, and some administrative services. However, unless specifically directed by their supervisor, EMPLOYEES SHOULD NOT REPORT TO CAMPUS.
Based on guidance from Governor McMaster, beginning March 23, 2020, and until the university resumes normal operation, or until further notice, supervisors will allow employees to work remotely to the extent possible. Every effort will be made to assign remote work to employees, including temporary employees, and work may be assigned on a part-time or full-time basis. Employees may feel free to suggest work opportunities to their supervisor. Please refer to the Temporary and Remote Telecommuting/Remote Employment Guidelines for additional information.
On Monday, March 23, 2020, employees may come to campus to retrieve work-related or personal items between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. During this time, employees are expected to be on campus only long enough to retrieve items and should not remain for an extended period of time. While on campus, employees must practice social distancing. Employees are prohibited from bringing children to work either during this item retrieval period on March 23, 2020, or at any time during the COVID-19 event.
Regardless of whether employees are continuing to work, timesheets and leave reports are required to be submitted according to the submission deadlines on Wingspan. According to state guidelines, unless the governor allows leave with pay associated with emergency closures of state institutions, employees must use available leave or take leave without pay for related absences. At this time, the governor has not allowed leave with pay for this COVID-19 event. Based on this, please refer to the information below regarding time reporting. If at a later date the governor determines that leave with pay can be provided for all, or a portion of the time, employees would be reimbursed for leave used.
All leave-eligible employees must submit timesheets or leave reports in the regular manner and according to the deadlines for reporting on Wingspan.
Leave-eligible employees who do not have available sick or annual leave may be advanced up to 15 days of sick leave. Employees may request an advance of sick leave using the Sick Leave Advancement Request form. Documentation from a licensed health care provider will not be required for advancement of sick leave directly connected to the COVID-19 event. All advanced leave will be repaid as the employee earns future sick leave. Employees may view their available leave balances on the Employee Detail tab on Wingspan.
Faculty, including adjuncts, will continue to receive their regular pay.
Temporary employees who submit timesheets and who work during the time the university is closed should submit timesheets in the normal manner, reporting only time worked. Temporary employees are not eligible for leave with pay for absences from work. Temporary employees may be eligible for unemployment benefits through the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. We strongly recommend that temporary employees contact SCDEW for additional information.
Salaried temporary employees will continue to be paid as normal, as long as they are continuing to work or will be allowed by their supervisor to make up the time spent not working at a later date.
Check the university’s COVID-19 page for additional tips on how to stay healthy.
Employment-related questions may be directed to HRHelp@winthrop.edu.
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