8.04.22 – APFA LGA Base Brief – New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

Thursday, August 4, 2022

New York State COVID-19 Paid Sick Leave

Your quality of work life and all that affects it will always be my priority as your APFA LGA Base President. When I began this journey, I did not expect to face the wave of physical assaults on Flight Attendants, and a pandemic that today continues to put a strain on the lives of our members in so many ways. The work of our base council is far from over, and every challenge we face will be met with the same resolve, head on. It gives me great relief to be able to bring to each of you based in New York, clarity on a Law that protects your well-being and that of your loved ones while we continue to work through COVID-19 which is far from over. Please take time to read over this base brief carefully, and feel free to share it with your colleagues.

This would not have been possible without the tireless work of Base Council reps Eric Hodgson and Meilan Smith, who day and night took on this issue and kept pushing me to bring this protection to the surface. This process has also opened a window of opportunity that can demonstrate to management that there are some issues that both Union and Company can work on collaboratively. When we take the time to care for those whom we entrust to care for others, we do what is right. I appreciate the swift actions taken by the Admin & ARC team to help us get this put in place quickly.

Who Qualifies?

Any Flight Attendant that is based in New York-LGA that is subject to mandatory or precautionary quarantine/isolation by order for COVID-19, or that tests positive for COVID-19. Length of service is not a requirement, so a Flight Attendant who is based in New York is eligible as of the first day they are officially working out of New York State.

How long is the NYS Paid Sick Leave good for?

For the duration of the required quarantine or isolation period.
*Each case may be different, so please do not be guided by what another member has experienced, if in doubt ask your base council rep.

DOH- Doha Qatar, Positive Test Pre-Departure

Follow the same steps as you would any other positive test. If you happen to test positive for DOH back-to-back, as some flight attendants fly, we have discussed this scenario with management, and they will extend your original isolation order. Please make sure that if this is your situation, that you make mention of that when you open your case in the absence tracker.

What is protected?

Pay, Attendance Record, and any earned Banked Holiday Points.
*Always capture your “My View” balance prior to starting a case for your records.

What days are paid?

Working days that you would have otherwise been able to work are the days used to calculate the NYS Covid-19 Paid Sick Leave.

What are the maximum days covered?

NYC Flight Attendants are eligible for a maximum of 14 missed days of work per Sick Leave.

How many times can a NYC Flight Attendant use NYS Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave?

Up to (3) three separate periods of isolation/quarantine due to a positive result.

If I test positive a second time right after isolating during the first positive test?

Do not report to work. Report it to the Department of Health so that you may obtain a second order of isolation/quarantine. For the second use of the NYS Paid COVID-19 Sick Leave you must submit documentation from a licensed medical provider or testing facility attesting they have received a positive diagnostic test for COVID-19 after the initial period of isolation. Both the second and third request for NYS COVID-19 Sick Leave must be due to a positive test result, which is different than the first which only required an attestation of a positive test result.

Do I need to test for COVID-19 to return to work after a period of isolation/quarantine?

No, you do not.

How to create a case to apply for NYS COVID-19 PAID Sick Leave

Jetnet > Team Member Service > Leaves & Returns > Flight Svc Folder

The Absence Tracker should populate on your screen.

• On the Absence Tracker follow these steps by selecting:
• Request New Case
• (Verify ALL of your personal information is correct)

Next Screen

• Select Confirm & Continue
• Select Pandemic Leave
• NY Covid-19 Sick Leave
• Consecutive, Confirm, Continue
• Enter the duration of request. (This date range is duration for the intended sick. Please keep in mind that this is for only you to determine as everyone may react differently to a positive diagnosis. The required isolation time is 5 days and then you may return to work if you feel able. You will be required to mask for the final 5 days.) 
• Add any additional personal information necessary and click next
• Review your NYS COVID-19 Sick Leave request thoroughly for accuracy and “Submit Request”

You must fill out one of the two Affirmations

Affirmation of Isolation for yourself or An Affirmation of Quarantine
(Exposure due to the illness of child/dependent family member for whom you are responsible)

What happens Next?

Once these items have been uploaded to Absence Tracker, your case will go up for review. Once approved, FS Admin will be notified of the approval and recode your absence with the DR removal code. Sick (SK) used will be returned to your sick bank and the case will then be sent to PayComp for processing. Please allow up to two weeks for the COVID SK paid hours to show on your schedule.

In Solidarity,

Eric Hodgson 
APFA LGA Base Council Grievance Rep

Meilan Smith
APFA LGA Base Council Representative 

Christian M. Santana
APFA LGA Base President 
[email protected]
(347) 546-0703

Proud to Represent New York-LGA