Key Definitions (Updated April 17)

March 27, 2020

The following definitions will be utilized March 25, 2020 – June 30, 2020

Stay-at-Home Order – the March 23, 2020 Governor Holcomb Executive Order that encourages most Indiana Residents to stay-at-home through May 1, 2020.  The Stay-at-Home Order provides Purdue the discretion to define those critical functions necessary to get us through the period of the Order. This time period will be extended if the Governor extends the Stay-at-Home Order for the state.

Essential Businesses and Operations – Types of business exempted from the Stay-at-Home Order. Educational Institutions, like Purdue, are Essential Businesses and Operations under ¶ 14(l) of the Order. Being identified as Essential Business and Operations permits Purdue to define for itself what areas of operations are critical while the Stay-at-Home Order is in effect. 

Emergency Family and Medical Leave (Emergency FMLA) – Leave that Purdue is federally required to provide to eligible employees who cannot work or telework due to a COVID-19 Qualifying Need. 

Emergency Paid Leave – Leave that Purdue is federally required to provide to all full and part-time employees who cannot work or telework due to a COVID-19 Qualifying Need.

COVID-19 Qualifying Need – Under Emergency FMLA and Emergency Paid Leave, an eligible employee must demonstrate one of the following qualifying needs: 

  • Employee is self-isolating or self-quarantining due to COVID-19 diagnosis based on recommendations from a medical provider or public health official; or, is awaiting a COVID-19 diagnosis. (Emergency Paid Leave)
  • Employee is caring for a family member who is self-isolating or self-quarantining due to COVID-19 diagnosis based on recommendations from a medical provider or public health official; or, is awaiting a COVID-19 diagnosis. (Emergency Paid Leave)
  • Employee is caring for a child due to school or childcare closure due to COVID-19 outbreak. (Emergency FMLA) 

Remote Work or Telework – work done outside the traditional on-site work environment.

Critical On-Campus Support – those functions that are vital to the continuity of the university and can only be performed on campus, including Critical Research Support as defined by EVPRP Mayer on March 24, 2020 and those functions that must be performed on campus to facilitate remote learning. Each Dean, Vice President or Vice Provost is responsible for defining employees who perform Critical On-Campus Support Functions for their respective Unit. 

General Workforce – university faculty and staff who are working – whether on-campus, via Telework or in some combination, and who are not performing Critical On-Campus Support functions.