ESO wants you to know you have many resources available during the University's implementation of reduced staffing due to COVID-19. Below you will find information to help you quickly find what you need. If you need to contact us, please feel free to reach out to our team.
ACCOMMODATIONS
COVID-19 SPECIFIC ACCOMMODATIONS
As part of the institutional response to COVID-19, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is committed to supporting employees and their immediate family members who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, this generally applies to people 65 years and older and people with underlying medical conditions. COVID-19 specific workplace accommodation requests will be considered for this group by Employment Services and Operations (ESO) Benefits team.
For more information on COVID-19 specific accommodations, visit the COVID-19 Specific Accommodation Guidelines. To apply for this leave, you must complete the COVID-19 Specific Accommodation Request form and forward it to Benefits@uhd.edu.
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS
UHD provides reasonable workplace accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities. A reasonable accommodation is defined as a reasonable adjustment or modification in the work environment or in the manner a job is customarily performed, that enables a qualified person with a disability to perform the essential functions of their position. To request an accommodation, you must complete the Request for Workplace Accommodation Form, attach a Medical Inquiry Form and forward it to UHD's ADA Coordinator.
For more information on workplace accommodations, visit SAM 02.E.09, Reasonable Workplace Accommodations for Employees with Disabilities.
EMERGENCY PAID SICK LEAVE (EPSL) RELATED TO COVID-19
UHD employees who are unable to work due to COVID-19, whether in-person or telework, may request EPSL. EPSL applies to all full- and part-time faculty and staff, student workers and temporary employees regardless of tenure at UHD. The duration of this leave for full-time employees is 80 hours; for part-time employees, it is the number of hours the employee works on average over a two-week period.
To qualify for this leave, employees must meet one of six qualifying reasons related to COVID-19.
For additional information, please contact Benefits@uhd.edu. To apply for this leave, complete the Emergency Paid Leave and Emergency FMLEA Form and forward it to Benefits@uhd.edu.
EMERGENCY FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE EXPANSION ACT (EFMLEA) LEAVE
EFMLEA leave is available to UHD employees if they are unable to work, whether in-person or telework, because they need to care for their child(ren) as their school is closed or the regular childcare provider is unavailable due to a COVID-19. EFMLEA leave applies to all full- and part-time faculty and staff, student workers, and temporary employees employed at UHD for at least 30 calendar days who meet the criteria above.
EFMLEA leave is for up to 12 weeks from April 1 to December 31, 2020. However, if an employee has used the Family and Leave Act (FMLA) leave within the past 12-month period, the employee will only be eligible for the remaining number of weeks.
EFMLEA leave is unpaid for the first 10 days of leave but employees may use any accrued leave or EPSL.
In the event you and your spouse are UHD employees and want to request EFMLEA leave, you are entitled together to a total of twelve weeks of FMLA/EFMLEA between both of you during the year (rather than twelve weeks each). A jointly filed request form is required from spouses who are both requesting leave.
Intermittent EFMLEA leave is also available.
To apply for this leave, you must complete the Emergency Paid Leave and Emergency FMLEA Form and forward it to Benefits@uhd.edu.
EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or Act) requires certain employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions will apply from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.
INFORMATION
FORMS
TELECOMMUTING
Until June 14, each office on campus may reduce on-site staffing levels to the minimum needed to ensure adequate continuity of operations, with remaining staff in the office telecommuting, provided the forms/protocols outlined below are followed. Unit managers are charged with establishing who is/is not needed on-site to maintain operational continuity.
PAYROLL
Hourly employees authorized to work remotely and who are set up on Web Clock must clock in/out as usual:
- Clock in at the beginning of the workday
- Clock out for lunch (an hour lunch break is required)
- Clock in upon return from lunch
- Clock out at the end of the day
Hourly employees authorized to work remotely and who are set up on Time Collection Devices (TCDs) must clock in/out using the Web Clock option now available in TRAM. (Please refer to the Web Clock User Instructions below.)
EMERGENCY LEAVE
President Muñoz granted “Emergency Leave” for the period of March 23 through June 14, 2020. Emergency leave does NOT apply to those telecommuting or performing remote work. Emergency Leave is available upon managerial approval only if the employee’s work cannot be performed from a remote location.
If you are granted Emergency Leave, enter this leave-in
PASS for the hours you were scheduled to work. Use the Emergency Leave code and type “COVID-19” in the comments section when completing your leave request.
- Non-exempt employees must submit Emergency Leave in PASS for the hours they were scheduled to work March 23 through March 31 no later than close of business Monday, March 30. Managers must approve this leave by close of business Tuesday, March 31 as the Time Administration process, which validates absences for each pay week, will finalize by noon on Wednesday. If these hours are not approved as indicated, hourly employees will not receive a complete paycheck.
- Exempt employees who were granted Emergency Leave must also submit Emergency Leave in PASS. All Emergency Leave granted must be submitted in PASS no later than close of business Sunday, June 14, 2020.
Please note: All regular leave types, such as vacation, sick, bereavement, etc. should continue to be used as appropriate and will continue to require supervisory approval.
Additional leave options will be available beginning April 2 with the passing of Federal Emergency Paid Sick Leave and the revised FMLA requirements. Watch for more information regarding these leaves.
MENTAL HEALTH
UTEAP Employee Assistance ProgramAvailable 24/7 for help coping with any unknowns in your life. To speak to a counselor about your concerns, contact 713-500-3327 or 800-346-3549. Additional EAP resources can be found below.
Doctor on Demand and MDLIVE Connect with a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist face-to-face from your computer or smartphone 7 days a week.
HEALTH
ERS "No Cost" Telemedicine and Testing Related to COVID-19ERS has arranged with HealthSelect BlueCross BlueShield of Texas to provide no-cost telemedicine and testing related to COVID-19.
As of March 6, 2020, those who are on the BCBSTX HealthSelect In-Area plan will have no cost-share for in-network lab testing related to the Coronavirus diagnosis and as of March 11, 2020, participants on the BCBSTX Consumer Directed HealthSelect plan have no cost-share for in-network lab testing related to the Coronavirus diagnosis. For more information about coverage please contact HealthSelect at 800-252-8039.
Virtual Medical VisitsHealthSelect participants also have the option to consult a doctor online through medical virtual visits.
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas Member Access
Find an in-network doctor, hospital, urgent care facility or mental health provider, check the costs and quality of doctors and services covered under your plan, check the status or history of a claim, request a temporary ID card or save a digital copy to your phone.
Mobile Apps
Get mobile access to BCBSTX, MDLIVE, and Doctor on Demand by downloading their apps.
THIRD-PARTY ADMINISTRATORS
HealthSelect® of Texas Consumer Directed HealthSelect
(Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas)
Group Number: 238000
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the third-party administrator for HealthSelectSM of Texas and the Consumer Directed HealthSelect medical plan. The prescription drug plan is administered by OptumRx. The Consumer Directed HealthSelect health savings accounts (HSAs) are administered by Optum Bank. (Please see below for contact information.)
Send GBP Supplemental Information forms to:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
4002 Loop 322
Abilene, TX 79602-7330 | Send claims and correspondence to:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
P.O. Box 660044
Dallas, Texas, 75266-0044 |
HealthSelect Prescription Drug Program (OptumRx)
Phone: (844) 368-8761
Email: ersescalations@optum.com
Consumer Directed HealthSelect HSAs (Optum Bank)
HSA Relationship Manager
Cindy Tupa
cindy.h.tupa@optum.com, (952) 205-7506
State of Texas Dental Choice PlanSM (PPO)
Administered by Delta Dental
Group Number: 20100
Member Services
Toll-free: (888) 818-7925 (TTY: 711)
Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(Plan materials are also available for download from the website.)
Send GBP Supplemental Information and claims to:
Delta Dental Insurance Company
P.O. Box 1809
Alpharetta, GA 30023
DeltaCare DHMO (DHMO)
Insured by DeltaCare USA
Group Number: 79410
Member Services
Toll-free: (877) 377-0987 (TTY: 711)
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(Plan materials are also available for download from the website.)
Send GBP Supplemental Information and claims to:
DeltaCare® USA
P.O. Box 1803
Alpharetta, GA 30023
State of Texas Vision
Administered by Superior Vision Services, Inc.
Member Services
Samantha Robinson
Phone: (800) 923-6766 (ext. 2406)
Fax: (800) 777-1811
Email: ersbcsupport@superiorvision.com
Address
11090 White Rock Rd., Suite 175
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Texas Income Protection Plan (TIPP) disability insurance
Address for claims:
TIPP Customer Care at ReedGroup Management LLC
P.O. Box 6278
Broomfield, CO 80021
Life Insurance – Basic, Optional, and Dependent
Administered by Minnesota Life, an affiliate of Securian Financial Group, Inc. Insurance Company
Member Services
Phone: (877) 494-1716
Fax: (512) 236-0199
Address for claims:
Securian
P.O. Box 1209
Austin. TX 78767-1209
For overnight deliveries:
600 Congress Ave., Suite 2160
Austin, TX 78701
