Keeping Flu-Like Symptoms at Home
Staff and faculty should remain away from the workplace when experiencing flu-like symptoms. Healthcare authorities state that the majority will not need to seek treatment, and ask that people with flu-like symptoms NOT seek treatment unless absolutely necessary, in order to prevent the spread of disease. Thus, we ask that you attend to the following guidelines regarding verification of absences during this period of influenza.
When the employee reports an absence due to a flu-like illness, tell the employee to report the absence in one of the following ways:
First Option: Online Absence Report available on self-service:
We will add a line to the “Comments” section asking if the absence is related to flu-like symptoms. This will satisfy documentation of the absence without a visit to a healthcare provider for medical verification. We expect that such documentation also would prevent the absence from being considered for excessive absenteeism.
Second Option: The University of Iowa Staff/Faculty Absence Form for Flu-Like Illness
This will satisfy documentation of the absence without a visit to a healthcare provider for medical verification. We expect that such documentation also would prevent the absence from being considered for excessive absenteeism.
In most situations, influenza will not meet the standard for a serious health condition under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). In the event that an employee meets the “beyond three full days” standard for FMLA designation and:
- you have information that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, ask them to complete one of the form options above and assume the absence will not meet the remaining portions of the definition. Do not designate as FMLA.
- you do not have information that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, you may send the Notice of Eligibility and Rights & Responsibilities and ask them to contact you. If they then state that the absence is not due to flu-like symptoms, you may send them the FMLA medical certification form. If they state that the absence is related to flu-like symptoms, have them complete one of the form options above.
For those of you who have attendance policies/guidelines (outside of FMLA) that require medical certification for absences of a specific duration (often 3 days), we ask that when an absence exceeds your standard and:
- you have information that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, ask them to complete one of the form options above and accept the form in lieu of medical certification. The absence should not be included when making a determination of excessive absenteeism.
- you do not have information that they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, contact them and ask. If they then state that the absence is not due to flu-like symptoms, you may require the documentation specified by your policy/guidelines. If they state that the absence is related to flu-like symptoms, have them complete one of the forms in Option 1 or Option 2 above instead. The absence related to flu-like symptoms should not be included when making a determination of excessive absenteeism.
These guidelines are in response to current concerns about the H1N1 virus. They will be reexamined on a monthly basis by the Critical Incident Management Team HR Subcommittee to determine their duration, based on recommendations from the Centers on Disease Control and other pertinent information. Once the threat is determined to have passed, we will return to former practices.
If you have questions, please contact your Senior HR Leadership Representative.