On June 16, 2021, Governor Little announced that all State of Idaho employees who complete COVID-19 vaccination by August 31, 2021 are eligible to receive four (4) hours of paid COVID administrative leave. Idaho State University is pleased to support this incentive leave benefit as a thank you to our employees who continue to promote the safety of our campus community.
This incentive leave benefit is available to all ISU employees (including non-benefited employees) who are actively employed by ISU and complete (or have completed) their COVID vaccination on or before August 31, 2021. This benefit is retroactive, and therefore is available for ISU employees who completed their COVID vaccination prior to this announcement. The use of these hours cannot result in an employee receiving pay for more hours than they are regularly scheduled. Within regularly scheduled time, an employee may schedule the use of these hours, with approval of their supervisor, to offset regularly scheduled hours.
How can I use this leave?
Employees may use this paid leave:
- To attend vaccination appointment(s),
- As sick leave if employee is feeling unwell after vaccination, or
- For personal paid “vacation” time off.
These leave hours do not need to be taken all at once, but all 4 hours must be used prior to December 31, 2021. If these 4 hours are not used by December 31, 2021, they will not be paid out. Employees who already completed the COVID vaccination and submitted accrued leave or took unpaid time off in previous pay periods cannot retroactively change those hours to administrative leave. Rather, these employees have 4 hours of new paid leave to use at their discretion between now and December 31, 2021.
Prior to using leave, employees must coordinate approved time off with their supervisors, while not being paid for more hours than regularly scheduled. Supervisors are encouraged to work with employees to allow them to utilize this benefit, while also maintaining coverage and service levels of the unit so as not to impact services and instruction to students.
Please see instructions below for specific time entry processes based on your employee status. When submitting leave hours, employees must enter the date(s) they received the vaccination, or complied with any requirements established as reasonable accommodation as referenced below.
If an employee chooses not to receive the vaccine due to qualifying disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or based on sincerely held religious beliefs, please contact Human Resources ([email protected], 208-282-2517) to discuss available accommodations for receiving this leave of absence benefit.
Time Reporting Processes
- If you report time in Bengal Web, please use the earn code “COVID Vaccine Leave” to report up to 4 hours of this leave benefit.
- In the comment section of your timesheet, you must certify the date you complied with the requirements of this policy (either the date(s) you attended your vaccine appointment(s) or were approved for an accommodation).
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If you do not report time in Bengal Web (Adjunct Instructors, Graduate Teaching Assistants, etc.), please select the following link to report the leave hours.
If you have any questions regarding this incentive leave benefit, please contact HR ([email protected], 208-282-2517). If you have any questions regarding time entry or processing, please contact Payroll ([email protected], 208-282-3010).
Where can I get a vaccine?
Bengal Pharmacy has COVID vaccination appointments available now (Pocatello) that can be scheduled online, or by calling 208-282-3407. Additionally, Bengal Pharmacy, ISU’s College of Pharmacy, and Southeastern Idaho Public Health will be holding vaccination clinics on Pocatello, Meridian, and Idaho Falls campuses during the first week of fall classes. Additional information will be available in the coming weeks. For more information regarding vaccine access, visit: https://www.isu.edu/roaringback/covid-vaccination/
