The world health community continues to monitor closely the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019″ (COVID-19). At this time, no one knows how severe this outbreak will be. Given this uncertainty, and the fact that the seasonal influenza (flu) virus is also widespread, we are taking proactive steps to address a few business concerns. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of employees, customers, visitors or others. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations in the event of a pandemic.
We ask all employees to cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace. Employees are reminded of the following:
* Stay home when you are sick.
– Remember not to abuse the call-in policy, we are encouraging employees to stay home when they are really sick, a fit for duty form from the doctor will be requested to make sure you are clear to work.
– If PTO is available my use it to cover your missed time or if PTO is not available, you’ll have to take as unpaid time
* Wash your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
* Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
* Avoid people who are sick with respiratory symptoms.
* Clean frequently touched surfaces.
SCC encourages you to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
It is critical that employees do not report to work while they are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that employees remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. We provide paid time off and other benefits to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
Please contact your supervisor and human resources department with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Chris Healy & Ryan Healy
