Employment-Related FAQs Specific to COVID-19

Visit Flexible Work for more information.

Visit Safe and Healthy Buckeyes for information on illness, contact tracing, isolation and quarantine.

1.How will occurrences related to COVID-19 be assessed within the context of attendance policies/guidelines?

**updated 6/27/2023

Certain attendance occurrences related to COVID-19 will be excused from consideration for corrective action in all attendance policies across the university and medical center. Employees are expected to follow the proper call-off procedures established within their department.

COVID-19 related absences which meet one of the following criteria will be excused from occurrences under attendance policies, and may allow for the use of accrued sick time (documentation may be required):

• You are ill with COVID-19 or ill with COVID-19 symptoms AND are seeking a diagnosis from a medical provider
• You are subject to a federal, state, or local order to quarantine
• You have been advised by a medical provider to quarantine due to COVID symptoms or diagnosis
• You are needed to care for a family member who is ill with COVID-19, or ill with COVID-19 symptoms AND is seeking a diagnosis from a medical provider
• You are needed to care for a family member who is subject to a federal, state, or local order to quarantine
• You experience debilitating symptoms immediately after a COVID-19 vaccination

2. If I am an employee with an underlying high risk medical condition or part of a high-risk population according to CDC guidelines for COVID-19, what are my options?

**updated 6/7/2021

Ohio State’s Employee Health office is monitoring and assessing risk based on CDC guidelines for any employee exposure at work.

Employees should talk to their health care provider to determine if they should be under restrictions at this time. Telework should be considered and utilized where appropriate. If telework is unavailable and the employee has restrictions per their health care provider, employees should submit a Workplace Accommodation request via HR Connection.

3. What are my options if I live at home with someone who has an underlying high-risk medical condition(s)?

**updated 6/7/2021

Employees should have their family member contact their health care provider to determine risk and review the process for submitting a Flexible Work request.

4. Can a supervisor require an employee to submit medical documentation to validate their illness or to return to work?

**updated 3/28/2023

Medical documentation may be required to support time off and/or medical leave for medical issues that are related to COVID-19 as well as for those that are not related to COVID-19, in accordance with all applicable OSU policies.

5. Can I donate vacation to a staff member for a COVID related absence?

**updated 1/11/2020

Under the Paid Leave Program Policy 6.27, employees can receive donated vacation to provide care for their own or an immediate family member’s serious health condition. During this pandemic, the vacation donation allowance has been temporarily expanded to allow employees to receive donated vacation for the additional situations listed below:

1. You are off of work due to your positive COVID diagnosis.
2. You are off of work to care for an immediate family member who has a positive COVID diagnosis.
3. You have a high-risk condition and your physician has written you off of work.
4. You are caring for an immediate family member who has a high-risk condition and your physician has written you off of work.

Please refer to Safe and Healthy Buckeyes for travel information.