As you are probably aware, in an effort to help protect the health and safety of our communities, the College announced today that it will move all classes to a virtual environment after Spring Break.
Public Access
Scripps continues to monitor the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and is working diligently to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of our communities. This remains a rapidly developing situation. As a precaution, effective immediately, all College offices will be closed to the public. If your office is typically public-facing, please place notifications on your door, including alternative methods of contacting the department.
Telecommuting Policy
In addition to the travel, event, and visitor restrictions that we previously shared, today we look to protect the health and safety of our workforce by encouraging social distancing for those staff whose positions can be performed through telecommuting. We are operating out of an abundance of caution and the utmost dedication to sustaining business operations to support our students.
Not all employees will be eligible to work offsite if they are required to be on campus to carry out their job responsibilities. Some offices may need to have an on-campus presence to provide necessary operational support. Each divisional vice president has evaluated their business operations to determine: which employees are eligible to work remotely; establish essential office hours within their divisions; and consider appropriate staffing levels across offices and departments. Within the next week, members of the senior leadership team will provide further guidance for employees in their respective areas.
Attached is the Emergency Telecommuting Policy that will go into effect on Monday, March 23. This policy outlines the criteria used in determining which employees are eligible to work remotely as well as establishing expectations for telecommuting.
To help facilitate communication and increase social distancing for those working on and off campus, the Scripps department of Information Technology (IT) has facilitated the purchase of an institutional Zoom license. IT will be hosting training sessions on how to use the new technology. Visit Scripps’ Zoom Information webpage for access and instructions.
The College may call employees back to campus at its sole discretion. We anticipate this updated policy being in place until the emergency or crisis subsides or guidance from the appropriate public authorities allows for a return to regular operations.
Health and Safety Protocols
For those who remain on campus, Scripps’ custodial staff have increased the frequency and scope of cleaning for frequently used surfaces, including increasing the use of disinfectants in high-traffic areas, such as door handles, elevator buttons, faucets, etc.
Per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Scripps is asking employees who will be working on campus to adhere to the following CDC Guidelines:
- Employees should stay home if they exhibit any symptoms of flu-like illness until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medicines (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
- If you are at higher risk for complications from the flu and you are sick, contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Children younger than five years of age, pregnant women, people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, neuromuscular disorders, or heart disease), and people 65 years of age and older are more likely to get complications from the flu. Your health care provider may prescribe antiviral drugs, and they are most effective when started within two days of getting sick.
In addition, emergency warning signs that a sick person needs urgent medical attention include:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
Mail Room
In order to increase social distancing for the Mail Room, the College will temporarily be discontinuing the production of check stubs for those employees with direct deposit. For those employees who would like copies of their check, this information is available 24/7 via Workday. A job aid on how to access this information will be sent to the community later this week. In addition, the mail room will have limited customer service hours. Information on changes that impact the mail room will be sent via email and posted on Scripps’ website by early next week.
I know many of you will have questions. All questions regarding the above policies and protocols may be submitted to the Office of Human Resources at [email protected]. Finally, I ask that you remember this is a fluid situation and we are all doing our best to support our communities. Please remember to extend grace and patience while we continue to work through this dynamic situation.
Please visit the Scripps COVID-19 Information webpage for the latest information and guidance.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Berklas
Assistant Vice President of Human Capital and Risk Management