COVID-19 Leave Policy 2021-2022 School Year

COVID-19 Leave for an Employee who is Subject to a Mandatory/Precautionary Order of Quarantine or Isolation:

As an employer in New York State, Launch will provide employees with 5 days of paid leave and guaranteed job protection when they are subject to a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19, as required by law. For the remainder of the quarantine or isolation period, Launch will pay employees their full salary and will request reimbursement for any disability and/or Paid Family Leave benefits the employee is eligible to receive.

To be eligible for this paid leave, an employee must:

  • Receive a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19.
  • If you need to obtain your order, please contact NYS Department of Health, 855-491-2667
  • Fill out the Request for Covid-19 Quarantine DB/PFL for Self.

Employees who are able to work through remote access or other means will not be eligible for paid leave pursuant to this Policy.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 and are not well enough to return to work at the end of their mandatory quarantine period should reach out directly to the Director of Finance and Operations for next steps regarding additional leaves. Employees will be required to provide medical certification from a health care professional in order to proceed with additional leave policies. FMLA will run concurrent with any leave an employee takes.

Employees will not be eligible for paid leave under this Policy for more than three orders of quarantine or isolation, and the second and third orders must be based on a positive COVID-19 test. If a positive COVID-19 test is not provided, employees may elect to use remaining paid time off or take an unpaid, job protected leave with benefits.

COVID-19 Leave to Care for a Minor Dependent Child Who is Under a Mandatory or Precautionary Order of Quarantine or Isolation

  • If an employee’s minor dependent child is under a mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation issued by the state of New York, the Department of Health, local board of health, or any government entity duly authorized to issue such order due to COVID-19, the employee may be eligible to take Paid Family Leave to care for them for the duration of their quarantine.
  • Who is eligible for this benefit?
    • Full-time employees: If you work a regular schedule of 20 or more hours per week, you are eligible after 26 consecutive weeks of employment with your employer.
    • Part-time employees: If you work a regular schedule of less than 20 hours per week, you are eligible after working for your employer for 175 days, which do not need to be consecutive.
  • Employees will need to fill out the Request for Covid-19 Quarantine DB/PFL for Child.
  • Should Launch offer a remote work option, employees who are able to work through remote access or other means will not be eligible for paid leave pursuant to this Policy.

NYS Paid Family Leave for Family Member who contracts COVID-19

  • If an employee has an eligible family member who contracts COVID-19, the employee may be able to take Family Care to care for them, as COVID-19 may be considered a serious health condition.
  • Employees can take Paid Family Leave to care for a close family member with a serious health condition, including family members outside of New York State.
  • Family members include:
    • Spouse
    • Domestic partner (including same and different gender couples; legal registration not required)
    • Child/stepchild and anyone for whom you have legal custody
    • Parent/stepparent
    • Parent-in-law
    • Grandparent
    • Grandchild ● Employees will need to submit this request form for Paid Family Leave to Trinet’s insurance carrier, Standard Security.