Returning to the workplace
Safety and personal protection
Yes, employees working on-site, regardless whether the worksite is Concordia-owned or leased, must wear a face mask or face covering while on property, unless the individual is working alone in an office or eating, drinking or using the bathroom. Appropriate use of face masks or coverings is critical in minimizing risks to others near you. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick.
Failing to comply with this or any other safety requirement will result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
Disposable masks may only be worn for one day and then must be placed in the trash. If soiled or torn, the mask should be immediately discarded and replaced.
Cloth face coverings must only be worn for one day at a time, and must be properly laundered before use again. Having a week supply of cloth face coverings can help reduce the need for daily laundering.
Buildings and facilities
Symptoms / sickness
All staff/faculty working on-site in support of critical operations should follow these steps:
- If you have ANY symptoms, including one or more of the following: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, runny nose or new sinus congestion, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, new GI symptoms, or new loss of taste or smell, you may not work. Leave the worksite immediately and contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu and they will contact you within 24 hours.
- Self-isolate until cleared by Human Resources to return to work.
Any staff/faculty member not working on-site should follow these steps:
- If you have ANY symptoms, including one or more of the following: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, runny nose or new sinus congestion, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, new GI symptoms, or new loss of taste or smell, you may not come into the worksite. Contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu and they will contact you within 24 hours.
- Do not report to work; self-isolate as directed by your healthcare provider and practice good hygiene to limit the potential spread of the virus.
- Self-isolate until cleared by Human Resources to return to work.
Any staff working on-site who have ANY symptoms, including one or more of the following: cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, runny nose or new sinus congestion, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, fatigue, new GI symptoms, or new loss of taste or smell, you may not come into the worksite. Contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu and they will contact you within 24 hours.
Others not working on-site who believe they have had an exposure to a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 should contact their healthcare provider for risk assessment and guidance. Contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu and they will contact you within 24 hours.
Workers’ compensation will apply to specific occupational exposures to the coronavirus. An employee who believes they have had an occupational exposure should first contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu. If the disease reaches the point of widespread community transmission, it would no longer be an “occupational disease” and thereafter workers’ compensation would not apply.
Concordia must maintain certain critical services and operations such as campus safety, Buildings and Grounds, and student services regardless of circumstances. There are certain positions that are required to be on-site to support those critical services and operations.
Concordia expects staff to attend work as scheduled and be fully prepared to begin work and remain at work through the entire work period. Any time away from work should be discussed and approved in advance with your supervisor.
If a staff member is scheduled to work on-site and does not report to work, the unscheduled absence may count as an occurrence for disciplinary action.
Working offsite
Working remotely should be discussed and approved in advance by your direct supervisor. Managers are asked to use discretion regarding who absolutely needs to be on-site and what work could be done remotely. Please discuss with your manager.
The decisions regarding what staffing is needed to maintain critical operations will be determined by the leadership of each respective department, unit or entity.
Yes. Non-exempt staff members are eligible to work remotely. However, supervisors need to be mindful of wage and hour laws when evaluating non-exempt staff members’ requests to be aware of potential overtime pay implications.
Yes, assuming the new hire can work remotely and has worked with his or her supervisor on assignments, schedule, communication, and other related issues.
Recording time
Any staff/faculty required to self-isolate by their personal healthcare provider or Human Resources should remain in an active paid status. Staff members are not required to use sick leave/vacation or PTO during this time. Staff should notify their direct supervisor if required to self-isolate by their personal healthcare provider or Human Resources.
The manager can make a referral to Employee Occupational Health & Wellness for a fitness for duty assessment. Managers should call EOHW BEFORE sending the staff member to the clinic so that appropriate plans can be arranged. If the staff member has a fever, cough, shortness of breath, and a history of travel to an area with community spread of COVID-19, he or she may be required to self-isolate at home for 14 days or longer before being medically cleared by EOHW to return to work.
Travel restrictions
If you traveled to an area with community spread of COVID-19 in the last 14 days and feel sick with fever, cough or difficulty breathing, you should contact your medical provider right away. Do not come to worksite.
- Contact Human Resources at human.resources@cuw.edu or 262-243-4414
- If you are seeking care, call ahead and advise your provider of your recent travel and symptoms.
- Avoid contact with others.
- Do not travel while sick.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
- If you are not experiencing any symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath), continue to self-monitor for any symptoms. You only need to self-isolate if you are returning from a region identified by the CDC with a risk assessment of Level 3 or Level 2 or have had contact with a known or suspected case of COVID-19.
Campus services
Duplicating Services is continuing to provide mail service and distribution of mail and packages throughout the University. The schedule may change to less frequent deliveries per week based on volume and need.
Family
If a University staff member who is required to be on-site needs time away to care for a child or children due to school/day care closures during this COVID-19 period, they may be eligible to Temporarily Remote Work from their home location with approval from supervisor, Vice President/Provost and Human Resources.
Human Resources will work closely with leadership to ensure alignment with those who have capacity to meet operational needs.
Due to liability reasons, children cannot accompany employees in the workplace.
Quick links
- CUAA Masks
- Online Screening Questionaire - Each day employees will self-monitor and answer a serious of question before reporting to work.
- An Uncommon Return: Phased return begins in July
- Uncommon Return Checklist for Employees - Check this list before returning to campus