WHILE AT WORK
Notify employees they must practice the Flashes Safety Principles.
Workspace & Personal Equipment
Following the Flashes Safety 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.
Ensure the workspace adheres to physical distancing guidelines and have employees maintain at least 6 feet of separation from other individuals. If such distancing is not feasible, other measures such as utilizing personal equipment are required for your protection as well as theirs. 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.
Protective Equipment will be centrally funded. The university will provide each employee with two cloth face coverings, as well as cleaning supplies for each unit. As described in these guidelines, protective equipment refers to washable face coverings (i.e., masks), hand sanitizer spray mist, disposable (plastic food-grade and nitrile gloves, based on risk) and sanitizing cleaning products for workspaces. Coordinate the protective equipment needs of your employee(s) with the person responsible for ordering for your department or campus to ensure your employees have sufficient protective equipment supplies prior to returning to work. More information about protective equipment can be found in our Faculty and Staff FAQs. By indicating your department’s anticipated return date in your protective equipment order, University Facilities Management (UFM) will ensure the heating and cooling systems are properly adjusted.
Wearing face coverings are a critical component to the Flashes Safety 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. 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.
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.
Do not provide or share food or drink in the workspace or at events or meetings. Aramark is available for approved university-funded functions.
Discourage employees from sharing other employees’ desks or equipment and remind them to wipe down desks and equipment between uses. It is not recommended to share break room kitchen equipment, i.e., toasters, coffee pots, etc. Access to copy machines should be limited.
Self-monitor Health
Encourage employees to self-monitor their health daily before coming to campus. Employees should not come to campus if they have symptoms. If they are on campus, and begin showing symptoms, they should contact their supervisor, leave work immediately and seek medical evaluation by calling their Primary Care Physician, DeWeese Health Center Telemedicine line at 330-672-2322 or their 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). Employees should contact the University Benefits Office (330-672-3107 or benefits@kent.edu) so as to receive further instructions about the leave process.
Healthcare & Precautions
If an employee has been advised to self-isolate, the employee should be allowed to stay home and isolate per medical professional advice. The employee may perform remote work dependent upon the nature of work and manager guidance.
Report any known or potential employee absence due to COVID-19 immediately to the COVID Response Team at 330-672-2525 and your manager. This includes Regional Campuses and CPM.
Allow employees to utilize leave time to consult with their healthcare provider, monitor symptoms, self-quarantine or self-isolate due to a possible or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Employees should also contact the University Benefits Office at 330-672-3107 or benefits@kent.edu. Please visit Kent State’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act website for more information about leave related to COVID-19.
Return to Work Requirements
Advise employees with new or worsening symptoms listed above that they are not permitted to return to work until:
- 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 (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).
Instruct all employees who have been in close contact as defined by the CDC with a person who is considered to have probable or confirmed COVID-19 that they may not return to work on campus until the end of the 14-day self-quarantine period from the last date of exposure. Please note that supervisors and employees should also report to the COVID Response Team by calling 330-672-2525 (COVID Response Team). The employee should be in contact with the University Benefits Office 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.
Check-ins
Conduct check-ins regularly with employees working both onsite and remote to discuss their challenges, concerns or questions. Offer support during this transition. Resources below are available:
Vendors
Ensure vendors and contractors are compliant with guidance provided by the State of Ohio. Find more information about vendors and contractors.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
For health-related questions, contact DeWeese Health Center at 330-672-2322
For leave and benefit information, contact Human Resources at 330-672-2901 or hrweb@kent.edu
Download Printable Procedures for Managers and Supervisors (DOC)