The purpose of this correspondence is to provide an update on Public Health Emergency Leave (PHEL).
The Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Human Resources Management (DHRM) has published the following guidance:
- Effective 9-01-21 the number of available PHEL hours is 80 hours specific to the criteria listed below:
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- PHEL may be used to attend to an employee's own illness due to a confirmed positive test for COVID-19. The employee's return to the workplace must align with the CDC's recommendations.
- PHEL may be used to attend to an immediate family member who has contracted COVID-19 through a confirmed positive test.
- Employees who used PHEL during the current leave year (since January 10th) may only use the remaining balance of PHEL as noted for the above criteria.
- Employees who used 80 hours of PHEL within the current leave year (since January 10th) will not receive an additional PHEL leave allotment.
- Once the allotment of PHEL is used, employees may use appropriate and available leave balances (Traditional or VSDP Sick Leave, Family-Personal Leave, Annual Leave, Compensatory Leave, Overtime Leave, Recognition Leave) or Leave without Pay.
- Effective 9-01-21 a maximum of 8 total hours of PHEL may be used to obtain a COVID-19 vaccine and/or recover from side-effects resulting from obtaining the vaccine.
- Medical documentation is now required to access PHEL leave (in any instance).
- Any DHRM PHEL guidance provided prior to 9-01-21 is no longer applicable.
Please see current guidance on use of PHEL on the DHRM website by clicking the link below:
DHRM Policy Guide- Policy 4.52 Public Health Emergency Leave as of 9-01-21
PHEL usage should be coordinated with the Department of Human Resources. Please contact JaRenae Whitehead at jwhitehe@odu.edu or send inquiries to hrcovid19@odu.edu.