Covid-19 Guidelines Update

Team,

With NJ’s cases on the rise, we wanted to take this opportunity to update March’s COVID-19 guidelines and would like to remind everyone to stay vigilant and review and follow the office policies to keep everyone as safe as possible. 

The following guidelines will be followed:

1. Every employee, every day, will have their temperature taken, with “ no contact” thermometers, as they enter the workplace. All employees must enter through the front main door only. 
2. All information concerning employee temperatures and COVID-19 symptoms, or any type of illness, will be maintained as confidential by HR.
3. If an Employee has a temperature or any COVID -19 symptom, they will not be permitted to work in the office. That employee should contact a medical professional immediately.
4. If an Employee has any COVID – 19 symptom, they cannot return to work until they have one of the following:

                                                         i. Fitness for duty certification

                                                       ii. Quarantined for 14 days

                                                       iii. Received a negative COVID – 19 test result 

1. Common COVID – 19 symptoms are as follows:

                                                           i. Cough

                                                          ii. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

                                                         iii. Fever

                                                         iv. Chills

                                                          v. Muscle pain

                                                         vi. Sore Throat

                                                        vii. New Loss of Taste or Smell

                                                      viii. Fatigue

                                                         ix. Headache

                                                          x. Congestion/Runny Nose

                                                         xi. Nausea/Vomiting

                                                        xii. Diarrhea

2. Every employee will be given face masks, gloves, and hand sanitizer. These items will be continuously supplied. 

1. Hand sanitizers will be stationed at the front desk, bathrooms, lunchroom, copy room, and copier in the back of the office. 
2. The office will be regularly cleaned and disinfected. Currently, there are nightly disinfecting happening throughout offices as follows:
   1. ALL perimeter offices, cubicles, closing each office door on the way out of each office.
   2. Large conference room, reception/waiting room, kitchen, and copier room.
   3. All door surfaces to each office and entry doors to suite and door handles.
   4. A vacuum w/ HEPA filtration was purchased for use in Ste. 300 ONLY. HEPA filters are replaced every 2-weeks.
   5. Common area bathrooms are also disinfected nightly.
3. Social distancing measures, at least 6 feet apart, will be practiced at all times in the office. Employees should not be congregating in common areas or hallways, including all copier stations. We will be posting signs concerning social distancing.
4. No visitors will be permitted in the office.
5. No in-person meetings with employees greater than 4 people will be allowed. All proper social distancing, and or PPE must be worn if social distancing is not possible. 
6. We have established common areas with in the office (hallways, copy room, kitchen, lobby, etc…see attached). Within these areas, proper PPE must be worn. Face masks at all times in these areas, and gloves when using or touching common items, such as copy machine, refrigerator, etc… You do not need to wear PPE when in your own office or at your own Cubicle. 
7. When in the lunchroom, if eating lunch, you must maintain social distancing or eat at your office. There also will be no coffee station for use nor water cooler. Bottle water will be available. 
8. Our March absence and leave policies remain in effect, as does our commitment to complying with applicable leave laws. Please follow our policies concerning reporting absences and other time out, and if you require a leave, please contact me. 
9. If you are sick you are to stay home from work, and follow the following:
   • If you have any COVID – 19 symptoms, you are to follow the protocol outlined in item number 1b.
   • If you stay home sick longer than 3 days you are to follow the protocol outlined in item number 1b.
   • If you stay home sick for less than 3 days and have no COVID – 19 symptoms, you may return to work. 
10. If someone living in your house is suspected to have COVID-19, is awaiting test results, or has symptoms, you should remain home until either:
    • COVID-19 testing is completed and comes back negative, or
    • If positive, you are to remain home and in contact with Kelly as to when it is safe for you to return to work
11. If someone you have been in close contact with informs you that they have tested positive for COVID-19 immediately after you have been in contact with them you need to get tested even if you are showing no symptoms before you can return to work….. If you have been exposed to someone with COVID is it recommended that you wait 4-5 days after exposure to be tested. 
    • A Close Contact is defined as Someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (e.g., 15 or more minutes at once; three 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes, etc). starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days before test specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated. 
12. You are to practice good personal hygiene, such as regular hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquette, and proper tissue usage and disposal.
13. Employees should not be sharing work equipment, including office supplies and materials. 
14. You are to practice good common sense when interacting with co-workers in the office.
15. In support of our goal of creating and maintaining a healthy and safe workplace, while we do not intend to influence or deter your vacation plans, traveling out of the tri-state area is discouraged. Until further notice please let Kelly know about any travel. The following protocol from the CDC will be enforced for you to return to work if you are traveling out of the tri-state area…

• Get tested 3-5 days after travel (Preferably 5 days) AND stay home for 7 days after your return from travel.
  • Even if you test negative, stay home for the full 7 days.
  • If your test is positive, isolate yourself to protect others from getting infected.
• If you don’t get tested, you must stay home for 10 days after travel.
• Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness for 14 days, whether you get tested or not.

Always follow state and local recommendations or requirements related to travel.

• If you do decide to travel and your job does not permit you to work from home, you will need to use your personal/sick/vacation time while you are out waiting on your testing to be completed and your quarantine to be over. If you do not have any paid time off left you will be docked pay. Disciplinary action will be taken if guidelines are not followed. 

Please consider all employees’ feelings when in the office and the field. We expect all employees to follow the above guidelines and be trustworthy for everyone’s wellbeing. The above items will be policed by all, please report all violations or concerns to Kelly. 

This is a fluid situation, and this plan will be adjusted as the applicable guidelines and laws, and our business and employees need change. 

We understand that you may have questions. Please direct them to Kelly.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to our common goals of a strong business and healthy workforce.