FACULTY & STAFF RESOURCES: FACULTY AND STAFF ABSENCES

What preventative measures should I encourage employees to take?

  • Encourage all persons to effectively cover their cough or sneeze and use good hand hygiene.
  • Hand washing facilities including running water and liquid hand soap should be readily accessible; alcohol-based hand sanitizers may be used if hands are not visibly soiled.
  • Plan ahead to ensure that enough alcohol-based hand sanitizers are available for situations where it is known that hand washing facilities may not be available, for example during outdoor events.
  • Ensure all areas and items that are more likely to have frequent hand contact (such as doorknobs, faucets, and, handrails) are regularly cleaned or immediately cleaned when visibly soiled.  

Can I work if I am exhibiting flu-like symptoms?

If you are unable to perform your job duties, or might be exposing others to the flu you should not come to work. 

When can I return to work if I have had Influenza? 

You can return to work as early as 24 hours after you are free of fever or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. For sick absences of 5 days or more, Time and Attendance will require medical documentation to return to work.

I don’t have enough leave to cover my absence from work due to the Influenza outbreak.  How can I afford to stay home until I am completely well before returning to work?

To minimize the potential exposure to others, it is very important that you do not return to work until at least 24 hours after you are free of fever, or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

Several options may be available depending upon the nature of your job responsibilities and the extent of your illness.
These include:

If I stay home from work due to illness, how will I be paid? 

Depending upon the nature of your job responsibilities and the extent of your illness, typically you would use accrued leave; for example, Annual, Sick, Compensatory or Personal.

I have an employee who is ill and has come into work. I’m concerned about the potential for exposure to other people.  Can I send this employee home?

The decision to send an employee home who is exhibiting flu-like symptoms is to be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Human Resources. Further details will be provided for those with patient care responsibilities. 

Supervisors should advise employees of the basic preventative measures (practice good hygiene, including frequent hand washing, covering your nose and mouth with your sleeve if you cough or sneeze, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth with your hands) and post flu flyers throughout your work areas.

May I request to go home if I don’t want to be exposed to a sick coworker?

Yes, with supervisory approval you may leave work.  However, you must use your accrued leave; for example, Annual, Compensatory or Personal.

I’m not sick, but I don’t want to come to work for fear of becoming ill. Is my supervisor required to approve my request for time off? 

You may request to take Annual Leave or Leave without Pay; however, your supervisor must approve your time off request.

My child’s school/day care is closed due to an incident of Influenza, and my child is not sick. I have no other child care arrangements. Can I bring my child to work with me?  If not, what are my options?

No, children may not be cared for in the workplace, instead with Supervisory approval you may:

  • Request Leave without Pay.
  • Use accrued leave (non-sick leave, which may only be used with personal or family sick situations).
  • Use accrued Compensatory time (for non-exempt employees)