In case you missed our Federal Newsmakers Roundup last week, a proposed rule issued by the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) may make it easier for federal employees
to use their sick leave to care for themselves or loved ones
The proposed regulations would provide an eligible
employee up to 26 administrative workweeks of leave under the Family and
Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to care
for a member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves, who is injured in the
line of duty while on active duty.
The new rules would also amend the language on advancing sick
leave, including sick leave that may be substituted for FMLA unpaid leave to
care for a covered servicemember, and sick leave that may be used to provide care for a family member and/or
for bereavement purposes, or in certain other circumstances.
Employees could receive as much as 30 days of sick leave in advance, should they come down with a communicable
disease, and 13 days if a family member does.
The rule also would permit an employee to receive up
to 240 hours of sick leave in advance if they are "incapacitated for the
performance of his or her duties by physical or mental illness, injury,
pregnancy or childbirth," or if they have a serious health condition.
OPM also wants agencies
to give employees up to 104 hours of sick leave in advance for medical, dental
or optical examinations, to provide care for family members who are
incapacitated due to medical or mental condition, or if they need to make
arrangements for a funeral or to attend a funeral.
Comments to the proposed rule are due by Oct. 26,
2009.
Related Stories:
[+] Federal Newsmakers Today
[+] OPM establishes new office for the Senior Executive Service
[+] Can my supervisor ask personal questions about my sick leave?
