To continue to provide support to our employees directly impacted by the virus, and to help mitigate the public health emergency arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic, the university has decided to voluntarily extend the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) benefit program through June 30, 2021.
The FFCRA required the university to provide emergency paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave to employees for certain reasons related to COVID-19. This requirement was first effective on April 1, 2020 and expired on December 31, 2020.
While on a general basis, this voluntary extension will follow the original federal FFCRA guidelines, please see below for key details regarding this voluntary extension:
Student Employees and Graduate Assistants
Under FFCRA, all employees, including student employees and graduate assistants, were eligible for the benefit program. However, the university recently was awarded funding from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Grant) to assist students who experience a loss of income due to an official order to isolate or quarantine because of COVID-19. As a result, student employees and graduate assistants who are unable to work will first be directed to the GEER Grant for financial assistance during their isolation or quarantine period. More information will be provided to students next week and links to this information will be provided to supervisors when they are notified of their student’s need to isolate or quarantine.
Travel
Through December 31, 2020, the university paid FFCRA leave benefits to employees that quarantined following travel to a hot spot state as defined by the city of Chicago travel order. Because at this time there is no university-related travel and employees are encouraged to limit personal travel, FFCRA leave benefits will not be provided for employees needing to quarantine following travel under this voluntary extension.
Employees Needing Leave Benefits
While the voluntary extension does not provide additional benefits for those employees who have already used the FFCRA program, employees needing to apply for leave beginning January 1, 2021, should complete the online leave request on the HR website. Employees will also be directed to this information by HR once they have self-reported through the online COVID-19 Screening Checklist that they have tested positive for COVID-19, are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone that has COVID-19. Please remind your employees to complete this checklist should they report absence to you for any of these reasons.
NIU will continue to monitor potential legislation at the Federal level that could impact paid leave benefits for reasons related to COVID-19. We will share information as it is received and update any leave programs as required.
Please direct any questions regarding this communication to HRSCOVID@niu.edu.
Thank you for your service to the NIU community.
