Return to the Workplace & Accommodations
Southern University is following the process outlined in the SUS Americans with Disabilities Act policy to consider reasonable accommodation requests for employees who self identify as having an increased risk of severe outcome from COVID-19 infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has outlined the following underlying medical conditions as high risk that may qualify for work accommodations:
- Persons aged 65 and over
- Chronic kidney disease
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from solid organ transplant
- Obesity (body mass index [BMI] of 30 or higher
- Serious heart conditions, such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, or cardiomyopathies
- Sickle cell disease
- Type 2 diabetes mellitus
In addition, the following conditions may be considered at an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19:
- Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
- Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Hypertension or high blood pressure
- Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
- Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
- Liver disease
- Pregnancy
- Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
- Smoking
- Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
Employees who have been instructed to return to work on-site or other members of the campus community who have concerns about returning to campus because they qualify as a person at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, they are pregnant, or they have a disability that is exacerbated by COVID-19 should consult the information and links below.
You may be required to return to work until such time as one of the options below has been completed and approved by Human Resources.
To Apply for a Workplace Accommodation
- An Employee Request for Job Accommodation Form should be submitted to your supervisor and forwarded to Human Resources no later than July 21, 2020.
- A Medical Inquiry Form in response to an Accommodation Request, completed by your Physician should be forwarded to Human Resources as soon as possible. This form, signed by your Physician, should offer limited medical information that verifies your medical condition and the manner and severity of the impact of COVID-19 on that condition as it relates to your employment and ability to return to SUS campuses.
- Your manager should work with Human Resources to complete a Job Analysis Form.
- Human Resources will review the reasonable accommodation request and medical documentation to determine if you qualify as a person with a disability under the ADA; and
- Human Resources will engage in an interactive process as necessary with you and your supervisor to discuss accommodations and your essential work functions.
- For situations where you have increased risk conditions that are determined not to be ADA disabilities, and/or where social distancing, PPE, or something that comparably reduces exposure risk would constitute the accommodation or adjustment, Human Resources will work with the employee and supervisor to determine if any other workplace adjustments are available.
To apply for Emergency Paid Sick Leave and/or Emergency FMLEA
What is Emergency Paid Sick Leave and/or Expanded FMLA?
- Under the direction of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA):
- Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), requires that certain employers provide up to 80 hours of paid sick leave to employees who need to take leave from work for certain specified reasons related to COVID-19. These reasons may include the following:
- the employee or someone the employee is caring for is subject to a government quarantine order or has been advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine;
- the employee is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and is seeking medical attention; or,
- the employee is caring for his or her son or daughter whose school or place of care is closed or whose child care provider is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
- Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (EFMLEA), requires that certain employers provide up to 10 weeks of paid, and 2 weeks unpaid, emergency family and medical leave to eligible employees if the employee is caring for his or her son or daughter whose school or place of care is closed or whose child care provider is unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
- Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA), requires that certain employers provide up to 80 hours of paid sick leave to employees who need to take leave from work for certain specified reasons related to COVID-19. These reasons may include the following:
This online tool can help you determine your FFCRA eligibility.
Click below to access application forms.
The Employee Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family Medical Leave Expansion Act will remain active forms of leave from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
Familiy Medical Leave Act
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that provides employees the right to take a leave of absence for personal or family medical reasons and leave for military families while maintaining job protection.
An employee may start the application process for Family Medical Leave by completing the SUS FMLA Application. The SUS FMLA Application must be signed by the Manager/Department Head and forwarded to Human Resources.
Upon submission of the SUS FMLA Application and eligibility determination by Human Resources, HR will provide the appropriate medical certification form to be completed by the employee's Physician. The medical certification must be returned to Human Resources. Once the certification is received by Human Resources, HR will provide approval or denial as well as any additional information available.
Employees with questions on any of the above may be directed to COVIDINFO@subr.edu or 771-5983. Students should direct their questions to 771-4770 for all medical concerns and 771-2025 for specific pharmacy related questions.
Required Reporting
If you are having any symptoms you are concerned may be due to COVID-19, please contact us immediately at COVIDINFO@subr.edu or 771-5983. If you are on an SUS campus, leave immediately. If you are at home, notify your supervisor and do not return to an SUS campus until cleared by Human Resources.
Supervisors should complete the SUS COVID-19 Incident Report Form for SUBR upon immediately upon employee notification of COVID-19 related symptoms, exposure, or diagnosis.