Unpaid COVID Leave of Absence
A message from CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tuesday, January 25, 2022 4:40 PM
Dear Teachers, PSRPs, and Clinicians,
We are sending a few updates regarding items agreed to between CPS and CTU in the January Memorandum of Agreement. As CPS works to implement terms of the agreement, we may send additional reminders and notifications to employees.
Taking an unpaid leave of absence
As part of the January 2022 MOA between CPS and CTU, CTU employees who are at risk of severe illness due to COVID-19 and who are unable to receive a vaccination or booster may take a job-protected, unpaid leave of absence with full health care coverage. This leave will last through the end of the third academic quarter. CTU employees may not use accrued sick or personal business days during an unpaid leave.
Request an unpaid leave of absence by applying for a Discretionary Leave through HR4U. You will need to complete the application by February 1 and provide the medical reason that you are unable to be vaccinated from your healthcare provider by Thursday, February 9. You will receive a confirmation email once your leave has been processed. If you have any questions about unpaid leave, please contact cpsloa@cps.edu.
School-Based Contact Tracing Training
As a resource for CPS staff, OSHW has created introductory training materials for staff members to learn more about contact tracing, which are now available for all staff members to access on Safe Schools. This training will be required for any staff member selected to participate in the voluntary contact tracing work at schools. We will be sharing more information about the sign-up process and logistics for this additional duty in the near future, but we encourage any interested staff members to take the introductory training now if they’re interested in learning more about the contact tracing process. Taking the introductory training now is entirely voluntary so staff members who opt for this optional training will not receive additional compensation. Additionally, CPS will be sharing information on the extra-duty paid contact tracing work for CTU employees shortly.
Staff members interested in this extra-duty work will need to sign up through an online form (which will be provided in a subsequent email) and complete directed training, including contact tracing, HIPAA, and FERPA training sessions, before participating in contact tracing. All required training will be compensated at the negotiated non-instructional pay rate (teachers/clinicians) or actual hourly rate (non-teachers).
Sincerely,
Lauren Clair-McClellan
Acting Chief Talent Officer
Chicago Public Schools
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COVID-19 RELATED SAFETY PROTOCOLS MEMORANDUM
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000017e-4779-d41e-afff-ff7dd8ce0000
