COVID-19 HR Information

As a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there have been updates to work and leave provisions, health benefits, and other HR items. Please consult this webpage for the most up-to-date information. 

Page updated March 1, 2021.

COVID-19 Vaccine Work Provisions

Permanent and temporary employees may use up to two hours of paid time worked to receive their dose of the COVID-19 vaccine during scheduled work hours with prior supervisor approval. This is paid work time and does not affect available COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave allotment. This paid work time is also provided for a second dose of the vaccine if it is required.  Special requests for paid leave beyond two hours for employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine require justification and will be subject to the approval of the Associate Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.
 
No leave entry is required in Kronos and non-exempt employees do not need to clock out/in for time to go get vaccinated.
 
Note: Employees who are on other pre-approved leave (e.g. FMLA, child care, vacation leave, parental leave) are not eligible to use paid time worked to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine during their leave of absence.
 
Vaccination reactions
COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave may be used if a permanent employee experiences a reaction to their vaccination, either on the day of the vaccination or the following day. Employees must use their accrued personal leave for reactions that are experienced beyond the day after vaccination. Reference the COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave (PAL) section below for more information.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)

The federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) was enacted in March 2020 to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. community. It includes two acts that apply to the University and provide paid leave benefits to University employees. 

Leave benefits provided under this federal program ended on Dec. 31, 2020.  For more information on the prior benefits provided, visit the FFCRA webpage.

If I continue to have child care/elder care issues, what options are available to me?

If I am subject to a quarantine, isolation or exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and is awaiting a diagnosis, what options are available to me?

  • Employees should continue to complete the daily Niner Health Check. Based on their responses, employees will be given instructions.

  • They may also apply for consideration of Paid Administrative Leave (PAL). Reference the section below for more detail.

  • Employees who exhaust all available leave, including their own leave accruals and any PAL granted, may contact the Benefits Office at Benefits@uncc.edu, 704-687-8134 to request consideration for the COVID-19 Shared Leave Bank. 

COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave (PAL)

  • As of Jan. 1, 2021, employees may receive limited COVID-19 paid administrative leave under the following conditions:

    • The employee is subject to a quarantine or isolation order, or has been advised to self-quarantine by a health care provider or public health official.

    • The employee was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and is awaiting a diagnosis.

    • The employee experiences a reaction to their COVID-19 vaccination that prevents them from returning to work, either on the day of the vaccination or on the following day. For continuing adverse reactions experienced beyond the day after vaccination, employees must use their own accrued personal leave.

  • Complete the Paid Administrative Leave (PAL) Request Form to apply.

  • Please note, use of this COVID-19 Paid Administrative Leave for the purposes listed above is cumulative from March 16, 2020, through June 30, 2021. If an employee used FFCRA emergency paid sick leave in 2020 for any of the reasons listed above, then those hours must be deducted from any remaining paid administrative leave granted. 

COVID-19 Shared Leave Bank

UNC Charlotte created a “leave bank” so employees can donate leave to colleagues who cannot work due to an eligible COVID-19-related reason and have exhausted their available leave.  

The COVID-19 Shared Leave Bank has been extended until June 30, 2021. Reference COVID-19 Leave Bank webpage for additional details.

Interchangeability of Leave

The interchangeability of leave has been extended to June 30, 2021. Employees may use accrued sick leave, vacation leave, and bonus leave interchangeably because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Please note, this provision does not allow interchangeability of leave usage in regard to the leave options provided in state policy for retirement, transfer, or separation. For example, as an employee approaches their retirement date, they cannot use sick leave as terminal leave, but they can use their vacation leave in accordance with state OSHR vacation policy. 

Expanded Community Service Leave (CSL)

Because of the pandemic, the UNC System Office has allowed for several modifications to CSL to be extended to June 30, 2021, including COVID-19 related service activity and tutoring and mentoring. For more information, visit the changes to CSL webpage.

State Health Plan 

For the most recent coronavirus updates from the State Health Plan, please visit their website.