COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave offered in accordance with Illinois Public Act 102-0697 is expected to end May 11, 2023.
COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave time was to be offered during any time when the Governor had declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act. The Governor has announced the state's public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023.
After May 11, 2023, eligible employees will need to use their own accrued sick leave or other appropriate paid or unpaid leave for time needed for COVID-19 reasons.
The COVID-19 Restored Sick Leave and Retroactive Paid Administrative Leave required by the Act for personal leave time taken for COVID-19 reasons prior to and during the 2021/2022 academic year will continue to be available.
In accordance with Public Act 102-0697, the University of Illinois System offers COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave to eligible employees.
View information about COVID-19 Restored/Retroactive Leave under Public Act 102-0697.
As of April 5, 2022, eligible employees may request leave under this program for absences related to qualifying COVID-19 reasons. This program is effective during any time the Governor has declared a disaster due to a public health emergency pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act and the University of Illinois System, the State of Illinois, or any of its agencies, or a local public health department has issued guidance, mandates, or rules related to COVID-19 that restrict an employee from being on University property due to the qualifying reasons.
COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave time is separate from accruable personal sick leave. It does not carryover from previous allocations, is not accruable, and does not carryover once leave availability expires. Employees are not entitled to reimbursement for unused leave upon termination, resignation, retirement, or other separation from employment.
Employees of UI Hospital and Health Sciences System should contact their leave representative for paid administrative leave related to COVID-19 available to health care employees.
Questions about this leave can be directed to your system or university HR contacts noted below.
Eligibility
Employees must meet all of the following criteria to be eligible:
- The employee is employed with the University of Illinois System and is unable to work or telework for one of the qualifying reasons:
- The employee has received a positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a PCR test or a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test.
- The employee has been in close contact with a person who had a confirmed case a COVID-19 and is required to quarantine in accordance with UIC, UIUC, or UIS campus quarantine and isolation guidelines and/or procedures.
- The employee was required by UIC, UIUC, or UIS campus quarantine and isolation guidelines and/or procedures to be excluded from university property due to COVID-19 symptoms.
- The employee must care for a child who is unable to attend daycare, elementary or secondary school because the child must isolate or quarantine because the child has:
- A confirmed positive COVID-19 diagnosis via a PCR test or a probable COVID-19 diagnosis via an antigen diagnostic test, or
- Been in close contact with a person who has a confirmed case of COVID-19, or
- Been required by the school or school district policy to be excluded from school district property due to COVID-19 symptoms.
AND
- The employee either:
- Has provided evidence to the University that they are fully vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration.
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 means at least two weeks have passed after receiving the second dose in a 2-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or at least two weeks have passed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine that requires only a single dose.
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 also includes any recommended booster doses for which the individual is eligible upon the adoption by the Department of Public Health of any changes made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States Department of Health and Human Services to the definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" to include any such booster doses. Individuals who are eligible for a booster dose but have not received a booster dose by at least five weeks after the Department of Public Health adopts a revised definition of "fully vaccinated against COVID-19" are not considered fully vaccinated for purposes of this program.
OR
- Has an approved medical or religious COVID-19 vaccination accommodation with the University at the time of leave and were/are fully compliant with all requirements of that accommodation, including testing and/or masking.
Amount of Leave and Duration of Leave Program
An eligible employee shall receive COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave at their regular rate of pay for as many days as required to abide by UIC, UIUC, or UIS campus quarantine and isolation guidelines and/or procedures as well as public health guidance, mandates, and requirements issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health
The availability of COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave for eligible employees begins April 5, 2022 and continues during the time period of the Governor’s disaster declaration for a COVID-19 public health emergency as specified under Public Act 102-0697.
Notice of leave request
Employees are required to follow their college/unit notice procedures for their intent and request to use COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave. Employees must complete the Employee Certification Form and submit it to their applicable Human Resources (HR) office (college/unit HR office, UIS HR for University of Illinois Springfield, System HR for System Office employees, or Hospital Leave Coordinator for UI Hospital and Clinics).
Employees will certify and affirm their inability to work or telework due to a qualifying reason. If an employee is found to have falsified the need for leave, the employee may be denied the leave and/or may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination.
COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave requires that employees have on file with the university their proof of vaccination status or evidence of a granted accommodation and full compliance with any testing requirements, including testing and/or masking.
Leave options for vaccine doses and boosters, and recovery from side effects
During the Governor’s declared disaster due to a public health emergency related to COVID-19 pursuant to Section 7 of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency Act, and in accordance with Policy and Rules, Rule 11.12 - Excused Absences With Pay/Approved Events, obtaining an FDA approved COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster is designated as an approved event for non-exempt employees. Employees may be excused for up to two hours, without having to charge a benefit, operations permitting and with prior supervisory approval, when absenting themselves for the purpose of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster.
Upon receiving the vaccine doses required for being fully vaccinated, employees should upload their Vaccination Record Card in accordance with UIC, UIUC, or UIS guidelines and/or procedures.
Beginning April 5, 2022, employees need to use their own accrued sick leave or other appropriate leave for time needed for recovery from any side effects of a COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster.
Leave provisions may differ for employees of the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System. Employees in these health care settings should contact their leave representative at uihloa@uic.edu for specific leave guidelines available to health care employees.
Forms and Resources
Questions