Public Health Emergency Leave for Temporary Employees

In September, the City of Philadelphia amended its Promoting Healthy Families and Workplace Ordinance, which provides up to 40 hours of paid sick leave each year to eligible employees, to include two weeks of Paid Emergency Public Health Leave (PHEL) for workers who declare a public health emergency like COVID-19. Prior to the PHEL amendment, Penn has provided paid leave to full-time and part-time employees for illness or other need for an absence related to the pandemic. During the time the ordinance is in effect, Penn temporary staff will also be eligible for two weeks of paid emergency public health leave.

Penn-paid temporary employees who have worked at least 40 hours at any time during the preceding 12 months, and who are unable to work their schedules due to a COVID-19 related incident, may use up to two weeks or 80 hours of PHEL for their absence. The amount of PHEL available to a temp is intended to be consistent with the number of hours the employee regularly works during a two-week period.

A temporary worker may use PHEL for one of the following reasons:

1. Care for self or family member advised to self-isolate by a healthcare provider;
2. Care for self or family member with symptoms related to COVID-19 and seeking a medical diagnosis;
3. Care for self or family member during federal, state, or local quarantine or isolation order related to COVID-19; and
4. Caring for a child whose school or childcare center has been closed or whose childcare provider is unavailable due to COVID-19.

Temporary workers needing PHEL should request time off in Workday. When requesting time off related to COVID-19, select PHEL Sick instead of choosing sick leave.

This benefit is in addition to sick time granted to temps under the Temporary Staff on Penn’s Payroll (Extra Persons) policy.

Temporary workers are covered under PHEL through December 31, 2020.