Coronavirus Update for Faculty and Staff

Dear Whitman faculty and staff,

We write to offer additional information about Whitman's preparations for staff and faculty for Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), specifically as it relates to employee and household member illness. 

IF YOU ARE SICK  

If you are showing symptoms of acute respiratory illness, please notify your supervisor and stay home. We ask that per CDC guidelines, you not return to work until you are free from fever for at least 72 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications. 

If you have a confirmed case of COVID-19, inform your supervisor and follow your medical provider’s guidance.

If you are a  staff member and need to stay home due to acute respiratory illness, you should take sick leave and log it through  BambooHR. If you have not accrued enough sick leave to cover hours missed due to acute respiratory illness, you can use vacation time. We will also allow for negative sick leave balances. If you feel well enough to work, you may talk with your supervisor about work from home options. Supervisors are encouraged to be flexible with their staff and work with WCTS and Human Resources to provide options for their employees when possible.

If you are a  faculty member and need to stay home due to illness, communicate with the Provost’s Office and your Department Chair. Also notify students to be on alert for additional information.

In all cases, rest, recuperate, and stay in contact with your supervisor.

IF A MEMBER OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD IS SICK 

If a member of your household shows symptoms of acute respiratory illness, please notify your supervisor (staff), or Provost’s Office and Department Chair (faculty), and stay home. We ask that you not return to work until the household member has been free from fever for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing medications. 

If your family member has a confirmed case of COVID-19, inform your supervisor or the Provost’s Office and Department Chair and follow your medical provider’s guidance.

If you are able to work from home during this period, you should work with your supervisor to explore remote work options.

If you are a staff member and work from home options are not available, you should take sick leave and log it through BambooHR. If you have not accrued enough sick leave to cover your hours missed due to acute respiratory illness, you can use vacation time, or we will also allow for negative balances during this period of time.

If you are a faculty member who needs to stay home to provide care, or because a household member is sick with symptoms of acute respiratory illness, and you can teach remotely you should make arrangements for the appropriate technology and notify your students. Be in touch with the Provost’s Office and Department Chair about your ongoing plans and your return to campus. WTCS and the Provost’s Office are offering a special session for faculty Tuesday at 4 p.m. to address technology solutions for teaching needs in more detail.

WASHINGTON PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE

Washington Paid Family and Medical Leave may be an option available to employees not receiving paid leave. We anticipate only a few people will find this of interest, and encourage you to contact the Human Resources Office at 509-527-5970 if you would like further information. The process generally does require medical certification and an application process through Washington Employment Security Department, and some time delays in administration and payment from Washington State may be unavoidable.

DO I NEED A DOCTOR’S NOTE TO RETURN TO WORK

While Whitman's sick leave policy indicates a healthcare provider's note must be provided for absences longer than 5 days, employees with acute respiratory illness will not be required to do so as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way. We ask that you communicate clearly the reason for your absence when you speak with your supervisor. 

VIRTUAL CARE

Premera, Whitman's healthcare insurance provider, is encouraging the promotion of virtual care during this time. Employees with Premera coverage can use Teladoc for no cost to the employee. Teladoc provides access to 24/7/365 access to board-certified licensed family practice doctors or pediatricians via phone (1-800-TELADOC) or video. Please take the time now to create an account by visiting the Teladoc website and have your Premera card available. Premera’s website offers additional advice, including information on how your health plan covers COVID-19.

Another virtual care option is Premera’s 24-hour NurseLine that allows you to talk with a registered nurse who asks you questions and helps you decide appropriate action. The phone number for the NurseLine is on the back of your Premera insurance card.

If your health insurance is with another company, you may find they offer an alternative form of virtual care as well.

WELL ENOUGH TO WORK BUT WORKING REMOTELY

For employees that feel well enough to work from home while recovering from acute respiratory illness or who have the capacity to do so while also taking care of an ill family member, you may work with your supervisor to make arrangements to do so. If you are able to work from home, you will not need to take sick leave. Human Resources will follow with more details of a Temporary and Relaxed Work from Home policy. We recognize that not all positions lend themselves to work from home options and your supervisor with the assistance of the Human Resources Office will make that determination. 

CHILDREN VISITING WHITMAN WORKSITES

In the event local schools dismiss children due to concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19) or if your own children are dismissed due to acute respiratory illness, you should make alternate arrangements and your children should not come with you to work at Whitman. Alternate work arrangements may include flexible scheduling, working remotely from home, or using sick leave or vacation.

MANAGING YOUR ANXIETY ABOUT CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)

The uncertainty and ongoing nature of coronavirus can be anxiety producing. Our employee assistance program, Cascade Centers, can assist you and family members with preparations you can be taking now to manage anxiety and maintain a positive outlook. Cascade Centers has a dedicated section about novel coronavirus, including information about managing your anxiety about coronavirus. 

EAP counselors are available by phone, internet, and text to get you help right away. Start by accessing their website, https://cascadecenters.com/ or call 800-433-2320

STIGMA RELATED TO COVID-19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at this time most people in the United States have little immediate risk of exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. However, some people are worried about the disease. Fear and anxiety can lead to social stigma towards specific groups. Stigma hurts everyone by creating more fear or anger towards ordinary people instead of the disease that is causing the problem. We can fight stigma and help not hurt others by providing social support. We can communicate the facts that being a member of a particular group – be it economic status, national origin, or other group does not increase the chance of getting or spreading COVID-19. 

Please feel free to contact contact me or others on the the Human Resource Team if you have questions about this information or we can be of assistance.

Best,

Telara
Director of Human Resources