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American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)—Emergency Federal Employee Leave (EFEL)

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 signed into law on March 11, 2021, provides an important new leave benefit for letter carriers affected by COVID-19. Effective March 12, it establishes a new category of leave called Emergency Federal Employee Leave (EFEL). EFEL is available to all federal employees if they experience a Covid-19 related absence which qualifies under the provisions of the Act.

https://www.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/USPS-American-Resuce-Plan-Guidance.pdf

  1. It’s about time! Now we can take off for virtual learning with our children. That was a major goal for federal unions to acquire with the new act and the entire time there has a push to allow liberal leave policies due to coronavirus. We are at a turning/breaking point and I told my union rep multiple times something has to give. Glad the post office is finally given no choice but to put it’s workers families first. This part of the bill has made headlines for months, USPS should’ve been more prepared throughout the entire pandemic. 600 hrs will definitely get me though the rest of the virtual school yr and beginning of the next yr.

  2. Hey can someone explain how this EFEL can be used? I requested 80 hrs and my supervisor told me I can only use 3 hrs a day of it because I get off work at 10am and my kids home school starting at 8am so she said I can only leave at 7 am to get home in time is that how this is supposed to be used. Im confused please someone clarify. Thanks

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