May I use sick leave to take a family member for testing or treatment for potential exposure to anthrax?
Yes. An employee may use his or her sick leave, annual leave, or leave without pay to provide care for a family member receiving a medical examination or treatment for potential exposure to anthrax. In addition, an employee may invoke his or her entitlement to unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to care for a spouse, son or daughter, or parent who is being tested or treated for potential exposure to anthrax. (Employees may substitute annual leave or sick leave for leave without pay under the FMLA, within certain limitations.) Fact sheets on the Federal leave system are available on OPM’s Web site at www.opm.gov/oca/leave/HTML/factindx.asp.