New travel guidance for employees following Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 205

On June 24, 2020, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 205, which requires individuals to quarantine for 14 days after traveling for 24 hours or longer to states that have a positive test rate for COVID-19 of higher than 10 per 100,000 residents or higher than a 10% positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average.

This new order modifies New York’s COVID-19 sick leave law. Employees who travel, after June 25, 2020, to these states for personal travel would be ineligible for paid sick leave benefits.

Before traveling out of state, all employees should consult the Department of Health about whether they are traveling to a state that requires quarantine upon return to New York. The list of states is being updated as cases evolve; please visit this link for current information.

Please note that the College will not require employees to submit proof of travel with submission of timesheets. However, employees may be asked to provide that proof at any time if a time record is audited. A time record is an official employment record, and every employee attests that it accurately represents work time, exceptions to work time, correct use of accruals and other leaves.

If an employee commenced travel on or before June 25, 2020, agencies are encouraged to support employees returning from travel with telecommuting options for the duration of the required quarantine period, where possible. If the employee cannot telecommute, the employee shall be covered by any quarantine leave applicable to the employee under any law, rule, regulation, or policy.

If an employee commenced travel after June 25, 2020, regardless of return date, agencies are encouraged to support employees returning from travel with telecommuting options for the duration of the required quarantine period where possible. If the employee cannot telecommute, the employee shall be eligible to charge appropriate leave accruals (sick time only if they are sick, vacation and personal by approval of supervisor), but shall not be permitted access to quarantine leave under any law, rule, regulation or policy. If a state is added to the list on or before the date the employee commences travel, the provisions of this paragraph shall apply.

Employees returning from a designated state who cannot telecommute for the quarantine period and are deemed essential to an agency’s operations are eligible to return to work under the guidance provided at this link and summarized below.

If such an employee is deemed essential and critical for the operation or safety of the workplace, upon a documented determination by their supervisor and a human resources representative in consultation with appropriate state and local health authorities, the exposed, asymptomatic employee may return to work so long as the employee adheres to the following practices prior to and during their work shift, which should be monitored and documented by the employer and employee:

1. Regular monitoring: The employee must self-monitor for a temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit every 12 hours and symptoms consistent with COVID-19 under the supervision of their employer’s occupational health program.
2. Wear a mask: The employee must wear a face mask at all times while in the workplace, for 14 days after last exposure.
3. Social distance: The employee must continue social distancing practices, including maintaining at least six feet of distance from others.
4. Clean and disinfect workspaces: The employer must continue to regularly clean and disinfect all areas, such as offices, bathrooms, common areas and shared electronic equipment.
5. Maintain quarantine: The employee must continue to self-quarantine and self-monitor for temperature and symptoms when not at the workplace, for 14 days after last exposure.

SUNY New Paltz employees are encouraged to contact the Office of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion at benefits@newpaltz.edu with questions.