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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Approving Temporary Revisions to Employee Leave Policy Due to COVID-19 RESOLUTION NO. 20-149 RESOLUTION APPROVING TEMPORARY REVISIONS TO EMPLOYEE LEAVE POLICY DUE TO COVID-19 FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, Congress approved a measure that would expand employees'access to paid sick leave due to the COVID-19 pandemic and expand the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to families needing to care for children when schools and daycares have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and, WHEREAS, this law, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), must be adopted by employers no later than April 2, 2020; and, WHEREAS, the City is proposing a temporary amendment to its current leave policy to provide some relief to employees who are impacted by the COVID-19 virus; and, WHEREAS,the policy includes a provision for a new form of paid leave,called COVID-19 leave and employees may be eligible to use up to 80 hours total of this COVID-19 leave in any combination,paid at their regular rate of pay; and, WHEREAS, the COVID-19 leave would apply if: • An employee has been required or advised to quarantine by a medical provider or a county, state,or federal agency,or who has been advised by a medical provider they have confirmed or presumptively confirmed COVID-19. • An employee is providing direct care for an individual required or advised to be quarantined by a medical provider, or a county, state, or federal agency, or an individual who has been advised by a medical provider they have confirmed or presumptively confirmed COVID-19. • An employee caring for a child whose school or daycare has closed due to COVID-19, provided there are not other work alternatives (i.e. work from home, work schedule modifications). WHEREAS,if employees are unable to return to work following the COVID-19 leave,they may use accrued and unused sick leave, vacation leave, or compensatory leave to cover their absence; and, WHEREAS,employees who choose to self-isolate without the express advise or requirement from a medical provider or a county, state,or federal agency may take accrued and unused vacation leave or compensatory time to cover their absence, and as will all voluntary leaves, such absences must be approved by the employee's supervisor; and, WHEREAS, for those employees who need to stay home with a child due to school and/or daycare closure, and who do not have work alternatives (i.e. work from home),up to an additional 400 hours may be paid at two-thirds of the employee's regular rate of pay, and employees may supplement two-thirds paywith accrued andunused sick leave,vacation leave,or compensatory time as it is available in order to receive full pay during the 400 hours of leave; and, WHEREAS, the City has been informed that employees who have exhausted all of their accumulated City paid leave options(eg. sick leave,vacation leave,or compensatory time)will now also be eligible for unemployment insurance benefits even though the employee has not been separated from City employment; and, WHEREAS,in accordance with the new federal legislation,this new temporary policy should be in place until no later than December 31,2020,and staff is requesting that the policy be approved and effective as of March 23, 2020. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa, that the temporary revisions to the Employee Leave Policy due to COVID-19 effective March 23, 2020,until December 31, 2020, is hereby approved. ADOPTED THIS 24t' day of March, 2020. Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor Introduced by: Gartin Seconded by: Betcher Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Martin Voting nay: None Absent: None Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 24"' day of March, 2020.