Town changes sick leave policy for COVID

Appalachia has modified its sick leave policy related to COVID-19.

As the pandemic drags on and the federal Centers for Disease Control continue to update COVID-19 guidelines, employers have had to change the way sick leave is offered.

According to a document provided by Town Manager Fred Luntsford, the town is now going by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which originated at the U.S. Department of Labor in April 2020.

The FFCRA provides eligible employees “up to 80 hours of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay when the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a medical diagnosis.”

According to the document, the FFCRA also provides up to 80 hours of paid sick leave at two-thirds the regular rate of pay if the employee cannot work because of a need to care for an individual subject to quarantine or to care for a minor whose school or child care provider is unavailable do the COVID-19 related reasons.

The two weeks of paid sick time is available to all employees, while the additional 10 weeks of paid family leave is available to those employed for at least 30 days.

Other non-COVID-19-related leave policies that have not been modified remain in effect.

Luntsford added an addendum to the document that states: “According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers have the legal right to mandate that their employees receive the COVID-19 vaccination. As of the date on this document, the town of Appalachia does not adopt said mandate. Exceptions will be viewed on a case-by-case basis.”

There is no date on the document released to the press. However the document, with the addendum, was received by email on Feb 4.