Current guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the federal Centers for Disease Control advises people who contract the influenza virus not to seek medical attention unless they have underlying health conditions or experience serious symptoms  such as a very high fever or severe difficulty breathing. Also, people infected with the influenza virus are advised not to return to work or school until they are fever free—without the use of fever-reducing medications—for 24 hours.

In light of the current guidance, the commonwealth is temporarily waiving the requirement that an employee obtain a doctor’s certificate for an influenza -related absence of three consecutive days or more.  This waiver only applies to absences resulting from employees and family members of employees who are infected with the influenza virus.  A doctor’s certificate remains necessary for all other absences due to illness or injury.

To use the waiver, employees must inform their supervisor that the absence is influenza related.  Employees and timekeepers are encouraged to select the influenza indicator in the ESS leave system for the qualifying absence.

Questions regarding this temporary policy waiver should be directed to your agency human resources office.