We understand the growing concerns related to COVID-19 and we want to ensure you that your health plans are equipped to help participants understand, prevent, and if needed, treat the virus. Additionally, we would like to remind our employees that University of Houston-Clear Lake provides a comprehensive Employee Assistance Program to benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and their household dependents. Below is important information on benefits and resources available to employees.
COVID-19 and Your Health Plan
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and COVID-19
10 Ways to Maintain your Health and Spirit!
New Covid-19 Member Portal and Nurse Practioner Hotline: Here you can find daily updated information about COVID-19 along with links to resources
across Texas, like coronavirus testing sites and if you have specific health concerns you
can speak with a nurse practitioner. Type “support” in the password field.
Families First Coronavirus Response Act
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion
- Employees who have been employed for at least 30 calendar days. This includes any employee of the University, i.e., student workers, temporary employees, part time employees, etc.
- Maximum of 12 weeks. Please note, the employee is only eligible for a combined 12 weeks of FMLA leave in a 12 month period which includes any leave taken under this Act. Depending on how much FMLA leave has already been taken by the employee, they may have already exhausted their FMLA leave for the period or may only be entitled to a portion of leave under this Act.
- Leave may be taken intermittently.
- First 10 days are unpaid but employee may substitute and use accrued vacation leave, personal leave, or medical or sick leave during this period.
- Employee can also use the paid sick leave under the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act to cover these first 10 days. Remaining period of the 12 weeks is paid at 2/3 regular rate of pay but is subject to caps.
Required forms: Please complete the required form and review the Employee Rights.
Emergency Paid Sick Leave
- Employees are eligible from the first day of employment. This includes any employee of the University, i.e., student workers, temporary employees, part time employees, etc.
- Additionally, employee is eligible if any of the following criteria is met:
(a) employee is subject to a federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19;
(b) employee has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to COVID-19;
(c) employee is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and is seeking a medical diagnosis;
(d) employee is caring for an individual who is subject to an order under (a) above or being advised under (b) above;
(e) employee is caring for a son or daughter of such employee if the school or place of care of the son or daughter has been closed, or the child care provider of such son or daughter is unavailable due to COVID-19;
(f) employee is experiencing any other substantially similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor.
- For full-time employees, 80 hours.
- For part-time employees, a number of hours equal to the number of hours the employee works on average over a 2-week period.
Required forms: Please complete the required form and review the Employee Rights.
FFCRA UHCL Application
Employee Rights