June 12, 2000
MEMORANDUM FOR DIRECTORS OF PERSONNEL |
FROM: |
JANICE R. LACHANCE DIRECTOR |
SUBJECT: |
Final Regulations on Sick Leave to Care for a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition |
On Saturday, June 10, President Clinton announced that the Federal Government
is establishing an expanded sick leave policy for Federal employees. To
implement this policy, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will issue final
regulations tomorrow, June 13. The final regulations will become effective on
June 20, 2000. Under the
final regulations, an employee may use a total of up to 12 weeks of sick leave
each year to care for a family member with a serious health condition. This
benefit broadens the options available for employees to meet their family
responsibilities.
The definition of "family member" for sick leave purposes
remains unchanged. It includes the following relatives of the
employee: (a) spouse and parents thereof; (b) children, including adopted
children, and spouses thereof; (c) parents; (d) brothers and sisters,
and spouses thereof; and (e) any individual related by blood or affinity
whose close association with the employee is the equivalent of a family
relationship. "Serious health condition" has the same meaning
as found in OPM's regulations at 5 CFR 630.1202 for administering the
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).
You may view a copy of the regulations on OPM's web site at
http://www.opm.gov/fedregis/index.htm.
In addition, questions and answers on the administration of this new
entitlement are posted at http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/slQ&A.
I also encourage you to share with your employees the fact sheet on "Sick
Leave for Care of a Family Member with a Serious Health Condition"
available at http://www.opm.gov/oca/.leave/html/12week.htm.
For further information, please contact our Pay and Leave Administration
Division by calling (202) 606-2858, sending a FAX to (202) 606-0824, or sending
an email message to payleave@opm.gov.
Last Modified: 3:38:53 PM on Wednesday, August 20, 2003
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