Employees: On Campus Work Procedures for Fall

Self-monitor health

 Employees must self-monitor their health daily before coming to campus. Do not come to campus if you have symptoms. If you are on campus and begin showing symptoms, contact your supervisor, leave work immediately and seek medical evaluation by calling your Primary Care Physician, DeWeese Health Center Telemedicine line at 330-672-2322 or your local urgent care center. Always call ahead before seeking in-person medical help. Employees who are diagnosed with probable or confirmed COVID-19 will be contacted by their local health department and will be given additional guidance and instructions. Please note that supervisors and employees should also report to the COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525 (COVID Response Team).

Return to Work Requirements

  In the case of an employee who was diagnosed with COVID-19, the employee should contact the University Benefits Office (330-672-3107 or benefits@kent.edu) so as to receive further instructions about the leave process. The employee may perform remote work dependent upon the nature of work and manager guidance. Please note that supervisors and employees should also report to the COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525 (COVID Response Team).

  In the case of an employee who has symptoms that could be COVID-19 and does not get evaluated by a medical professional or tested for COVID-19, the individual is assumed to have COVID-19, and the employee should contact the University Benefits office in Heer Hall at 330-672-3107 or benefits@kent.edu so as to receive further instructions about the leave process. The employee, if able, may perform remote work dependent upon the nature of work and manager guidance. Please note that  supervisors and employees should also report to the COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525 (COVID Response Team).

Workspace Expectations

 Following the Flashes Safe Seven principles,  and as part of the university’s reopening plan, custodial staff has been systematically cleaning buildings, classrooms and offices.  All offices are now cleaned, including carpeting, and ready for use.  Please note:  If you have work materials or personal items on the surfaces in your office, those areas were not cleaned.  You will need to clean those areas yourself before you use them.  

Our custodial staff will continue to clean all spaces that are accessible to employees as well as the public.  These spaces include but are not limited to waiting rooms, seating areas in corridors, conference rooms and bathrooms.  In classrooms, instructors are responsible for cleaning their workspace (e.g., podium, keyboard, camera, table).  Supplies will be available at the entrance to each classroom for student use.  

All office suites will have cleaning supplies available for employee use.  If you work on the Kent campus and do not want your office cleaned by custodial staff, then contact Todd Burdette at tburdet1@kent.edu to opt out of any custodial staff cleaning. Employees managing reception counters will need to clean the counter/high-touch surfaces after each guest. Employees who share spaces that are not accessible to the public (e.g., break rooms, copy rooms, supply rooms) are expected to sanitize contact areas in these spaces after each use.  The office(s) responsible for the space should post guidelines in or near these shared spaces to ensure that the employees who have access to the spaces understand the expectations for entering and using shared spaces.   Some examples of appropriate guidelines include the following: (i) one employee in this space at a time; (ii) do not share food or drink; or (iii) use the secure print option when printing to the copier. 

  Maintain at least 6 feet of separation from other individuals whenever possible. Protective equipment is required for your protection and the protection of others. You are required to wear a cloth face covering while on campuses. The university will provide each employee with two cloth face coverings, as well as cleaning supplies for each unit. The person responsible for ordering for your department or campus will coordinate the ordering of these materials. As described in this document, protective equipment refers to washable face coverings (i.e. masks), hand sanitizer spray mist, disposable gloves (plastic food-grade and nitrile gloves, based on risk) and sanitizing cleaning products for workspaces.  More information about how to wear and wash face coverings can be found at the CDC’s Use of Cloth Face Coverings to Help Slow the Spread of COVID-19.

 Wearing face coverings are a critical component to the Flashes Safe Seven principles. All who can safely wear face coverings are required to do so. We understand that not everyone may be able to wear a face covering.  If you are concerned about wearing a face covering for one or more of these reasons, please submit the Pandemic Adjustment Request. In addition, face coverings should never be worn by or placed on people who are younger than 2, have difficulty breathing, or are unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove them without assistance.

  Do not provide or share food or drink in the workspace or at events or meetings. Aramark is available for approved university-funded functions.

  Replace in-person meetings with video- or tele-conference calls when possible. If you have questions regarding remote conferencing, see https://www.kent.edu/keeponworking.

  Wash or disinfect hands while at work and after any interaction with other employees, constituents or items in the workplace.  

Additional Information

  For questions or more information contact your supervisor or go to https://www.kent.edu/coronavirus

  Download  Printable Guidelines for Employees (DOC)