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  • H1N1 (Influenza A) Virus Information for Supervisors and Employees
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H1N1 (Influenza A) Virus Information for Supervisors and Employees

Boston University’s policies governing time off for Non-Represented employees is available in section 300 Authorized Absences from work of the Employee Handbook, formerly known as the Personnel Policy Manual. For represented employees, these policies are included in the respective collective bargaining agreements.

As stated in the message from Vice President Peter Fiedler, supervisors should be flexible in addressing absences which may result from employees who present with flu-related symptoms. Below you will find some helpful information; however, you should feel free to contact your Employee Relations Representative to discuss any concerns you may have about requests for time off from employees.

We are advising supervisors not to require employees to submit doctor’s letters for short periods of absences if the absences are flu-related.

If an employee has a medical condition which places him or her at increased risk, the supervisor should consult the Employee Relations Representative who will work with the supervisor, the employee and medical professionals from the Occupational Health Center to determine the best way to handle the situation.

Employees who are unable to report to work because of illness are eligible to use their unused accrued sick leave, in accordance with the policies outlined in the Employee Handbook for Non-Represented/Non-Exempt and Exempt employees or the appropriate collective bargaining agreement, as follows:

• Employee is ill and is unable to report to work
• Employee has a member of his/her immediate family who lives in the same household who is ill

Employees will not be required to present doctor’s certification for suspected cases of H1N1 Flu except in those cases where sick leave appears to be abused.

Employees who do not report to work for any of the following reasons will be required to use unused accrued vacation leave or available compensatory time or available personal days. The use of accrued sick leave will not be allowed in these situations.

• The employee is afraid to leave home, travel by public transportation or attend work because he or she does not want to be exposed to the H1N1 flu.
• The employee has school-aged children who cannot attend school due to school closing because of an H1N1 Flu outbreak.

Employees will be eligible to apply for Family and Medical Leave, Medical Leave and Personal Leave in accordance with existing policies.

The University’s Occupational Health Center is making arrangements to offer the seasonal flu vaccines to employees who work on the Charles River Campus and will provide information via email containing the dates of the clinics as soon as the vaccines are received. This information will also be posted on the Occupational Health website. Employees who work on the Medical Campus have been notified of the availability of the seasonal flu vaccines.

If you have any questions, you should feel free to contact your employee relations representative or the Occupational Health Center.