OPM Updates Sick Leave Policies

Tuesday, December 07, 2010

By Emily Long December 6, 2010

WASHINGTON - Federal employees now will have expanded access to sick leave to care for injured service members or family members exposed to communicable diseases.

According to a final rule in Friday’s Federal Register, government employees beginning Jan. 3, 2011, will be allowed to substitute up to 26 weeks of sick leave for unpaid leave accumulated under the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act to care for injured or ill service members. Agencies also can permit up to 30 days of advanced sick leave to be used for this purpose.

In addition, the rule defines when sick leave can be used in cases for communicable diseases, including the flu. Sick leave will be authorized only in situations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention believes will threaten public health. Agencies must wait for guidance from CDC or the Office of Personnel Management to administer sick leave for these purposes, the rule says.