Sick Leave to Care for a Family Member
with a Serious Health Condition
Entitlement
Most Federal employees may use a total of up to 12 administrative
workweeks of sick leave each leave year to care for a family
member with a serious health condition. If an employee
previously has used any portion of the 13 days of sick leave
for general family care or bereavement purposes in
a leave year, that amount must be subtracted from the 12-week
entitlement. If an employee has already used 12
weeks of sick leave to care for a family member with a serious
health condition, he or she cannot use an additional 13 days in the
same leave year for general family care purposes. An employee is entitled to a total of 12 weeks of
sick leave each year for all family care purposes.
Definition of Family Member
"Family member" is defined as--
- spouse, and parents thereof;
- children, including adopted children, and
spouses thereof;
- parents;
- brothers and sisters, and spouses thereof;
and
- any individual related by blood or affinity
whose close association with the employee is
the equivalent of a family relationship.
Serious Health Condition
The term "serious
health condition"
has the same meaning as used in OPM's regulations for administering
the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA). That definition includes such
conditions as cancer, heart attacks, strokes, severe injuries,
Alzheimer's
disease, pregnancy, and childbirth. The term "serious
health condition" is not intended to cover short-term
conditions for which treatment and recovery are very brief.
The common cold, the flu, earaches, upset stomach, headaches (other
than migraines), routine dental or orthodontia problems, etc., are
not serious health conditions unless complications arise. The
agency may require medical certification of a serious health
condition.
Administration
The same limitations apply to the use
of sick leave to care for a family member with a serious health
condition as apply to the use of sick leave for general family care
or bereavement purposes. A covered full-time employee may use 40 hours (5
workdays) of sick leave each leave year for these purposes. An
employee may use additional sick leave for general family care or
bereavement purposes or to care for a family member with a serous
health condition if he or she maintains a balance of at least 80 hours of sick
leave in his or her account. Only the first 40 hours of
sick leave (or a proportional amount for an employee on a part-time
schedule or uncommon tour of duty) may be advanced. (See Sick
Leave for Family Care and Bereavement Purposes.)
References
5 CFR 630.401 and 630.1202
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