Guidance for Managing COVID-19 in the Workplace

This guidance has been developed to help employees and supervisors follow proper protocol for a variety of scenarios in the workplace regarding COVID-19. This document is not intended to capture every possible scenario but, rather, is a reflection of the most common scenarios that may be presented. This document will be updated with additional information and guidance. Questions, comments or concerns about the information presented should be submitted to covid19_hrquestions@illinoisstate.edu.

Individuals who seek COVID-19 testing and treatment are often being told to relay information directly to his or her supervisor. In order to protect an employee's personal health information and ensure all necessary procedures are carried out, Human Resources requests that employees provide information directly to the Benefit Counselors in Human Resources. Supervisors will be notified as appropriate.

Individuals who need to inform Human Resources of COVID-19 related information outside of normal business hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.) should call (309) 438-5507. Please leave a message with relevant details for your call and contact information. A member of the Human Resources team will be in contact with you as soon as possible.

Employees who feel ill, whether related to COVID-19 or an unrelated illness, should stay home and seek medical attention if appropriate. Student employees or graduate assistants should contact Student Health Services (SHS) for assistance. Keep in mind that employees requesting time away from work should follow normal call-in procedures and protocols for their department and report time away from work in accordance with University policy.

Employee Related COVID-19 Scenarios

Scenario 1: Employee has symptoms consistent with COVID-19.
Scenario 2: Employee believes he or she may have been exposed to COVID-19 but has not been deemed a close contact.
Scenario 3: Employee is positive or presumptive positive for COVID-19, OR, employee has been notified that he or she is a close contact of a positive individual by a local health department.

In the case of an employee who is:

symptomatic (experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19)

If the employee is directed to self-quarantine by a health care provider, the employee should contact Human Resources at 309-438-8311 and request to speak with their Benefits Counselor to discuss a leave of absence. AP and Civil Service employees who hold positions that are eligible for remote work under Policy 3.1.31 may be authorized to work remotely in these situations. Faculty should work with their Chairs/Directors to determine the appropriateness of remote work in these situations.

If the employee is not directed to self-quarantine by a health care provider, the employee may return to work if they feel able and should continue to adhere to face covering guidelines, use standard hygiene, and continue to wash hands frequently. The employee may also use benefit time, in conjunction with department polices and call-in procedures, if they are still not feeling well enough to work.

In the case of an employee who:

believes that he or she has or may have been exposed to someone who is symptomatic but has been not deemed a close contact.
believes that he or she may have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 but has not been deemed a close contact.

The employee should seek medical advice from a health care provider on the next steps to take. Please follow the health care providers advice and notify Human Resources if you fall into any of the other scenarios after consulting your health care provider.

In the case of an employee who has:

The employee should contact Human Resources at (309) 438-8311 and request to speak with their Benefits Counselor to discuss a leave of absence. Employees may be required to self-isolate or self-quarantine in accordance with CDC guidelines or as directed by their healthcare provider. AP and Civil Service employees who hold positions that are eligible for remote work under Policy 3.1.31 may be authorized to work remotely in these situations. Faculty should work with their Chairs/Directors to determine the appropriateness of remote work in these situations.

Notification of Close Contacts

The identification of close contacts is typically done by the local health department by individuals trained in the criteria and factors that are needed to determine if someone is a close contact. The University does not notify employees or determine close contacts.

If an individual believes that he or she has may have been exposed to someone who is symptomatic or to someone who has tested positive but has not been deemed a close contact, please follow the guidance for Scenario 2.

If an individual has been deemed a close contact of a positive individual, please follow the guidance for Scenario 3.

Directing Employees to Test

Outside of the University’s announced SHIELD surveillance testing, supervisors should be aware that they should not direct an employee to seek or not seek testing for COVID-19. The decision to test should be made between the employee and his or her health care provider.

Leave of Absence Notes

Employees who need to be absent from work for a reason related to COVID-19 may be eligible for a leave of absence under the COVID-19 Related Leave of Absence policy. Benefits under the COVID-19 Leave policy remain in effect until June 30, 2022. Please contact your Benefit Counselor in Human Resources at (309) 438-8311 for further information.

COVID-19 Symptoms

Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fever
Chills
Muscle pain
Sore throat
New loss of taste or smell

This list does not contain all possible symptoms. Additional information can be found on the CDC website and the Illinois State Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response website.