Jennifer Lucas, Co-Director of Human Resources, addresses employees with a fall health update, including a mask/face coverings update and protocols for traveling to hot spots.
Dear Faculty and Staff,
On July 15, Governor Wolf released guidance regarding the continuation of remote work. His guidance includes the following language, “Unless not possible, all businesses are required to conduct their operations in whole or in part remotely through individual teleworking of their employees in the jurisdiction or jurisdictions in which they do business.” Divisions with employees who are able to continue working from home as a means of de-densifying their physical workspace are encouraged to do so by developing continuity plans with the understanding that those plans should not compromise the College’s ability to fulfill its academic mission, engagement, and support efforts. Employees should be in touch with their supervisor or division head to discuss their work schedule for the fall semester, on- or off-campus.
Mask/face coverings update
Every student and employee will be required to wear a mask or face covering (covering their nose and mouth) while on campus. Exceptions to this are:
- When a student is in their residence hall room, suite, or apartment with their assigned roommate(s).
- When an employee is isolated in their personal office space, which is not shared with any other individual and positioned at least six feet apart from another person.
- When eating meals.
- When an employee or student is driving a College-owned vehicle with no passengers. This includes equipment being operated by College employees.
Masks must be worn in spaces even where a plexiglass barrier is present. Employees who have additional questions regarding the use of a mask or face coverings should refer to the frequently asked questions section provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Health.
Travel to hot spot states
If an employee travels to an area with high amounts of COVID-19 cases (as defined on Governor Wolf’s website), they must adhere to the following Gettysburg College protocols:
If the employee has no symptoms:
- Work remotely for 14 days, if possible.
If the employee is not able to work remotely, they can return to work as long as they:
- Adhere to the practice of no close contact (adequate physical distancing in common and personal areas, etc.)
- Wear a mask or face covering at all times and in all scenarios.
- Utilize full hygiene and cleaning protocols for 14 days upon return (cleaning your personal space and all spaces you have occupied).
- OR supply a negative COVID-19 test result.
If the employee has any symptoms:
- Employees should contact their physician. Employees are encouraged to use telemedicine (video and phone visits) in order to limit potential exposure in physician offices. Follow your healthcare provider’s advice regarding testing, isolation, or quarantine.
- Stay home. Do not come to work.
Employees may return to work after they receive either a negative test result or they receive approval from their healthcare provider. After a positive test result, employees may return to work (1) no sooner than 72 hours after they are fever-free without the use of fever-reducing medications, (2) once their symptoms of respiratory infection (not allergies or asthma) have improved, and (3) 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
- Notify their supervisor immediately and discuss the possibility for remote work, if possible. Self-isolate until they are cleared by their physician.
Please note, Human Resources is working to develop an Employee Health Form that will be released soon to help us track and minimize the spread of illness among the Gettysburg College community. Employees will be asked to report their symptoms of flu or COVID-19 using this form.
We recognize that this is a most usual time and set of circumstances for all of us. With that said, as we eye a residential fall semester, I want to take this opportunity to underscore that we can and will navigate these unique challenges together as a campus community. Our institutional decisions are relying upon our employees to isolate when they are sick, to wear masks and face coverings, to communicate when they visit a COVID-19 hot spot, and to take the necessary precautions to keep their fellow Gettysburgians safe and healthy. I am confident that we will do so.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Human Resources.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Lucas, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Co-Director of Human Resources, Gettysburg College