Employee Reopening Phase - Posted 6/5
Dear Employees:
Manhattan Area Technical College is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all our employees. To ensure this, we have developed the following Employee Reopening Plan (this email is not a complete synopsis please review the link for entire protocol) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All employees are responsible for understanding and complying with all aspects of this plan. Together, by adhering to this plan, we can mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 at MATC and create a safe and welcoming community for our students when they return.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a fluid situation and circumstances can change quickly. As such, this plan will change as needed. We will provide updates when changes are made. This plan is heavily informed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
We recognize that personal situations may prevent employees from returning on the date that a supervisor may ask an employee to return to work. Employees do not have to return to work by that date if their personal situation prevents them from doing so, e.g., lack of childcare. Employees should work with their supervisors to develop a plan to return to work.
Prior to entering campus, all employees must adhere to/complete the information below. If the acknowledgment and weekly screening forms are not completed, or the results show that staying at home is advised, employees will not be allowed entrance to the college.
Acknowledgment and Agreement to Comply with Public Health Expectations
Prior to the first time an employee returns to campus they will need to sign the COVID19 Return to Campus Acknowledgment, which explains risks and responsibilities, including information regarding those in higher-risk categories, before returning to campus.
Acknowledgement and Agreement Form
Weekly Screening Questionnaire
Employees will complete the weekly online COVID-19 Employee Screening Health Questionnaire (must be logged in to access the form). Employees will be asked two questions regarding their current health status and then asked to attest to their answer. Employees who do not complete the survey weekly will not be allowed access to campus.
Daily Screening
Employees who are instructed and/or authorized to return to campus must conduct symptom monitoring every day before coming to campus, and it is their personal responsibility to do so. Individuals must be free of ANY symptoms related to COVID-19 to report to work.
While a monitoring app is not required, several options exist to help gauge symptoms or participate in COVID-19 related public health research. They include:
- COVID-19 Self Checker — Developed by Johns Hopkins.
- COVID Symptom Tracker —Developed by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, King’s College London, and Stanford University School of Medicine; provides local virus hot spot information and is linked to numerous research studies such as the Nurses’ Health Study.
Arrival on Campus Screening
All employees must pass through a mandatory health screening at the welcome desk when arriving on campus and anyone with a temperature at 100 degrees or greater will be asked to leave campus. Temperature screening on campus allows the college to know immediately if someone is symptomatic so that they can be directed to a testing site to get tested. All Employees will enter through the main entrance of the main building of the college for testing upon their scheduled arrival time to work. There will be posted signage within the interior foyer indicating which doors are entrances, exits, and to adhere to social distancing guidelines while awaiting screening. For more information refer to the symptom monitoring requirement on the website.
The enacted College protocols for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic are and will continue to be rooted in safety for staff, faculty, students, invited guests (e.g., contractors), and the public with whom we interact with. The health and well-being of our community are critical. Protecting the health of the community will require long-term effort and commitment, cooperation, teamwork and understanding. If metrics of COVID-19 transmission and health system capacity change significantly, MATC may also re-impose restrictions on activities. If there are questions, you may ask your supervisor or Human Resources for guidance.
Wishing you Continued Health,
Manhattan Area Technical College
