HR Partners

Public Health Emergency Leave Extended for Temporary Workers

News from December 23, 2020

The University is extending coverage for temporary employees under Paid Emergency Public Health Leave (PHEL) from December 31, 2020 to February 28, 2021. PHEL is an amendment to the Promoting Healthy Families and Workplace Ordinance that provides two weeks of paid leave for workers who declare a public health emergency.

Prior to this amendment, Penn has allowed full-time and part-time employees to adjust their sick time up to 80 hours for illness or other need for an absence related to the pandemic. During the time the ordinance is in effect, Penn temporary staff are also eligible for two weeks of paid emergency public health leave.  

Penn-paid temporary employees who have worked at least 40 hours at any time during the preceding 12 months, and who are unable to work their schedules due to a COVID-19 related incident, may use up to two weeks or 80 hours of PHEL for their absence. The amount of PHEL available to a temp is intended to be consistent with the number of hours the employee regularly works during a two-week period. 

See the December 23, 2020 myHR newsletter for details about the criteria for using PHEL.