Update to COVID-19 Leave Provisions

October 23, 2020

Good morning,

First, a huge thank you for the daily efforts by each member of the campus community to protect our students and colleagues.  Following the 3 Ws (wash hands, wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart), checking symptoms daily, and remaining at home if you are not feeling well or if you have been notified by a healthcare provider to quarantine or self-isolate continues to make a difference for UNC Asheville.

To support employees as they remain vigilant and careful, the UNC System recently updated the COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave Provisions.

Since August 2020, UNC staff in permanent positions have been eligible to receive up to 160 hours of COVID-19 paid leave (cumulative through December 31, 2020) after an employee has exhausted their 80 hours of FFCRA Emergency Paid Sick Leave and exhausted all personal leave, but still need to be out of work for any of the following reasons:

  1. An employee is subject to a local quarantine or isolation order,
  2. A healthcare provider has recommended an employee to self-quarantine,  or
  3. An employee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking a diagnosis.

The UNC System sought and received further flexibility from the State to enhance this provision.

Effective November 1, UNC Asheville employees can use up to 80 of these 160 hours of COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave prior to the employee using any personal leave. This is designed in the interest of public health and safety to encourage employees to self-report and stay out of the workplace in the event of a suspected COVID-19 exposure, including awaiting the scheduling of a COVID-19 test or pending test results based on the specific advice of a healthcare provider. This would apply even if an employee has no visible symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g., asymptomatic).

Employees who have exhausted their FFCRA Emergency Paid Sick Leave and need to be out of work based on a reason listed above should contact Christy Williams (cwilliam@unca.edu) or Karla Piccirillo (kpicciri@unca.edu) in Human Resources for more information.