March 24, 2020

Good Morning,

Please be advised you can not order your staff to stay home. You could certainly strongly advise your staff to check with their physician and stay home if so advised. They will need a note to be covered under the NYCSSS COVID-19 leave policy. Any custodial staff member who wishes to be out under the NYCSSS COVID-19 policy must follow the NYCSSS guidelines that were emailed you yesterday. The staff member must notify you and submit their documentation letter to NYCSSS at humanresources@nycsss.org. You can email it for them.

Once documentation is submitted to and approved by NYCSSS you will no longer enter that person’s hours. NYCSSS will enter that custodial employee’s hours for the duration of the approved absence based on their usual work hours. Follow up with NYCSSS to ensure the absence was approved. Otherwise, an employee who does not get approval can still be paid by you using their accrued time if they wish.

Be Safe,
Robert

March 19, 2020

PAYROLL ADMINISTRATION MEMORANDUM
2019-2020
NO. 13 REVISED

DATE: March 9, 2020

TO: BCO Directors (Via Email) Principals (Via Principals’
Weekly) Payroll Secretaries/Timekeepers (Via Email)

FROM: Francine Perkins-Colón

SUBJECT: Timekeeping Procedures for Absences Related to the 2019 Novel
Coronavirus

In accordance with policy issued by the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and adapted for the Department of Education, the following timekeeping procedures are enacted for absences that are or will be documented as related to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus virus (COVID-19) under specific circumstances as outlined below.

Eligibility

Absences on or after February 2, 2020 shall be excusable and not charged to either sick or annual leave banks when the absence is a result of one of the following:

1) A confirmed case of COVID-19 where the employee is under quarantine or isolation in accordance with a directive issued by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Health (DOHMH) or other state or federal health agency.

2) Where an employee is symptomatic and under investigation for COVID-19 infection and required to remain absent as directed by DOHMH or other state or federal health agency.

3) Where an employee has been in close contact, as per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines (e.g. within 6 feet for a prolonged period of time) with an individual who has a laboratory confirmed case of COVID-19 and needs to undergo testing and/or self-monitoring requiring absence from work, as certified by their doctor, DOHMH or other state or federal health agency.

4) Where an employee has recently returned to New York from other countries/areas designated by the CDC or DOHMH requiring absence for self-monitoring.

5) Any other case where an employee has specifically been ordered or directed to be quarantined, isolated, or absent for self-monitoring by the DOHMH related to COVID-19 including any quarantines recognized by DOHMH from other public health agencies.

Employees in these categories will not have absences charged to their sick or annual leave banks for the duration of the period they need to be out per the guidelines of the applicable agency. Thereafter time will be charged to leave balances. Employees who have exhausted their sick or annual leave days may be advanced days in accordance with collective bargaining agreements, the NYC DOE Rules and Regulations governing administrative employees, and the Chancellor’s Regulations.

Please note that absences due to regular illness or general flu like symptoms will be treated according to the standard sick leave/time policy unless they qualify, with appropriate documentation, as set forth above.

If/as there are any updates to COVID-19 excused absences, this memo will be updated accordingly.

Timekeeping Codes and Procedures

Timekeeping Codes
The following codes are to be used to record excused absences due to COVID-19

Cybershift Code:
QCV Description – QUARANTINE – CORONA VIRUS PAID

EIS Codes:
Code Absence Description Applicable Employee Group

31QCV Quarantine for Corona Virus Education Administrators
41QCV Quarantine for Corona Virus 10 month Pedagogical Titles
(e.g. Teachers, Guidance Counselors, School Secretaries, 10 month APs,etc.)
52QCV Quarantine for Corona Virus Education Paraprofessionals
61QCV Quarantine for Corona Virus EBank Hourly titles
71QCV Quarantine for Corona Virus CSA 12 month titles, except EAs

Documentation
All such excused absences require documentation of meeting the criteria as set forth above. Such documentation may include directives from the applicable health agency, medical documentation from a doctor, and/or documentation of travel.

Timekeeping Entry
In order to help monitor these absences, for these codes only, timekeepers are both asked and authorized to enter them immediately upon a person’s report of being absent, even if receipt of such documentation is pending, if the individual attests or there is a good faith indication that the absence was in accordance with the above guidelines. In part, this is necessary because absences of this nature may make it difficult to provide documentation immediately and because tracking such absences is an important part of monitoring the spread of COVID-19. The failure of an employee to provide said documentation at the earliest opportunity will result in absences being charged to their sick or annual leave bank retroactively.

Robert

Local 891 Member,

We simply don’t know what measures the City or State might take next to slow the spread of COVID-19. The members of our Union are often called to respond to school buildings under emergency conditions. Always be prepared. Carry your Department of Education ID, be professional and prepared to explain yourself at all times.

Robert

Click here for pictures from Local 891’s Cocktail Reception at Russo’s on the Bay.

January 24, 2020

September 13, 2019

Local 891 Member,

I.U.O.E. General President James T. Callahan swore in the newly elected Officers to their three year terms as well as the recently hired Custodian Engineers into Local 891. This was the first time (as long as anyone can remember) that the General President of the I.U.O.E. was present at an 891 meeting.

New York State Senator John Liu spoke about his admiration and appreciation of Local 891

Thank you for the tremendous turnout! Both General President Callahan and Senator Liu were impressed by the attendance last night.