A memo issued by Governor Lemanu on Friday, spells out leave and compensation policy for ASG employees who have to miss work because of COVID.
It says, those who have not been able to work at their regular place of employment due to the restrictions of the Declaration of Ongoing Public Health Emergency and State of Emergency (Emergency Declaration), shall be paid without their leave being charged.
Employees who are staying home because of quarantine, isolation, or at the direction of their supervisor, are performing their duties.
1. Employees who are in quarantine or isolation, pursuant to a directive from the Department of Health, are assigned to be in their place of quarantine or isolation during their work day. Any employee leaving their place of quarantine or isolation, during their work day, for any purpose other than seeking medical care, is subject to disciplinary action in addition to any other penalties provided by law.
2. Employees instructed by their supervisor to remain at home due to COVID-19 restrictions in the Emergency Declaration, shall be paid their regular rate of pay without their leave being charged. Directors should assign their employees remote work to the extent possible.
This policy applies to employees who were granted an exemption from the government employee vaccine mandate because of a disability, a valid medical reason, or because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.
This policy does not apply to those employees who were placed on leave for a failure to provide proof of vaccination pursuant to the Emergency Declaration.
Employees of semi-autonomous agencies have reported that if they test positive, they have to take leave. Or if someone in their family tests positive and they report in that they cannot come to work, because they are the sole caregiver, they also have to take leave.
It’s not known if the Governor’s memo covers employees of semi-autonomous agencies.
