Department of Civil Service issues new bulletin about leave for vaccination

As previously shared with the campus community, Governor Cuomo signed legislation on March 12 granting public and private employees in New York time off to receive the COVID-19 vaccination.

On March 17, the Department of Civil Service published a new Attendance and Leave Policy bulletin with additional information about this new policy. The bulletin can be read in full online.

Some key points for members of our campus community:

1. Employees who received a vaccination during work hours prior to March 12, 2021, are required to charge leave accruals or be granted a leave without pay.

2. The appointing authority may require satisfactory medical documentation that the employee’s absence was for the purpose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

3. Employees are entitled to a leave of absence for COVID-19 vaccinations scheduled during the employees’ regular work hours. Employees who undergo vaccinations outside their regular work schedules do so on their own time.

4. Up to four hours of paid leave is allowed for each dose of the vaccination. Accordingly, employees who receive a vaccination that is administered in two doses would get up to four hours of paid leave for each dose.

Any questions about these provisions should be referred to the Attendance and Leave Unit of the Department of Civil Service at (518) 457-2295.