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Pandemic FAQ

Question
[hypothetical] A family member has the pandemic influenza, or complications from the flu, and I must care for him or her. What are my leave options?
Answer
An employee may use a total of up to 104 hours (13 days) of sick leave each leave year to provide general medical care to a family member and up to 12 weeks (480 hours) of sick leave to care for a family member with a serious health condition. If the employee has already used 13 days of sick leave for general family care, that amount must be subtracted from the 12 weeks (480 hours) of sick leave an employee may use to provide care for a family member with a serious health condition. In addition to sick leave, depending on the particular circumstances, an employee may use annual leave, advanced annual leave, advanced sick leave, earned compensatory time off, earned compensatory time off for travel, or earned credit hours. An employee also may request to receive donated annual leave through his or her agency’s leave transfer or leave bank programs. An employee may invoke his or her entitlement to unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and take a total of up to 12 weeks (480 hours) of leave without pay to provide care for a spouse, son or daughter, or parent with a serious health condition. An employee may also request leave without pay. Employees should consult with their agency human resources office to determine how their agency policy applies to their situation.


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