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Human Resources
University of Mississippi

Emergency Family and Medical Leave

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers, including University of Mississippi, to provide their employees with expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions within the Act will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

Eligibility

This personal health emergency leave (PHE leave) expands the application of FMLA to all employees who have been employed at least thirty (30) days.

A qualifying employee who is unable to work or tele-work shall be entitled to Emergency Family and Medical Leave for up to twelve weeks if the employee is caring for a child under the age of 18 whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) due to a public health emergency related to COVID-19 as declared by a federal, state, or local authority.

Compensation

  • The first 10 days of the 12-week EFMLEA leave period may be unpaid leave during which time an employee may substitute, but is not require, the use of  accrued vacation or major medical leave.
  • After the first 10 days of leave, the University will provide paid leave for each day at a rate of not less than 2/3 of regular rate of pay for the number of hours the employee would normally be scheduled to work.  For those employees with varying work schedules, the number of hours shall be based on the average number of hours scheduled over the previous six (6) month period or the reasonable expectation of hours at time of hire.

Documentation

Employees shall provide the Department of Human Resources notice of their request for this benefit as soon as practicable.  Documentation is required to determine eligibility and may include one of the following.

  • recommendation from a public health official or heath care provider that the relevant employee has symptoms or should be quarantined
  • documentation or evidence of exposure
  • notice of school or childcare provider closure

Human Resources is responsible for determining eligibility for Emergency Family and Medical Leave.   The employee’s department must process a HR Form 3 to place the employee on leave of absence.

The University will continue to pay the employee’s portion of the University’s health insurance during the period of EFMLEA entitlement.