As COVID-19 is spreading, our staff members are asked to review the following workplace policies and guidance. It is likely this information will change as the situation evolves and more becomes known.
Search Explained’s priorities in setting these workplace policies are to:
- Maintain a safe and healthy workplace, including minimizing the transmission of contagious disease;
- Sustain operational continuity;
- Encourage an ethos of fairness, open communications and concern for the wellbeing of our company.
Most Important Actions to Take Now
- All staff are urged to take basic preventive measures to avoid exposure to or infection by the virus causing COVID-19.
- Everyone to work remotely (more than they already do, or entirely, and possibly for a protracted period of time if it becomes necessary) should do so now.
Updated Search Explained Workplace Policies (effective 3/10/20)
Search Explained continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of our Team
- Employees may use paid sick time for self-isolation or quarantine, even if they are not sick, when it is required or recommended by public health authorities/guidelines or by health care providers.
- Employees may use paid family and dependent care sick time to care for immediate family and household members who are not ill but need care due to any COVID-19 related closures of schools or day care centers, or for other breakdowns in care arrangements. Employees may not bring affected children or elders to work with them, even if the children or elders are well. To recap:
- If not working in order to actively care for dependents or household members – use dependent care sick time.
- If working remotely with relatively self-sufficient dependents or household members at home due to COVID-19 disruptions – no need to report the use of paid time off.
Workplace Policies (effective 3/4/2020)
- Well Employees: staff who are well are expected at work as usual
- Sick Employees: staff who have symptoms of respiratory illness must stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever, and any other symptoms for at least 48 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g., cough suppressants). A fever is defined as a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius taken by an oral thermometer.
- Return to Work: In general, written medical clearance
will not be required for return to work. This is being done to avoid
overtaxing health care resources.
- Returning from Travel to Affected Areas: Please
refer to the CEO of Search Explained for up-to-date recommendations about
return from and other topics.
- Preparing for Increased Telework/Remote Work: Employees who can work effectively from home by telecommuting should make sure now that they are prepared for the possibility of teleworking more days per week than they do presently, or entirely, and possibly for a protracted period.
Travel policy (Effective 3/4/2020)
Search Explained continues to place the highest priority on the health, safety and wellbeing of our Team and customers. From 3/4/2020 the no travel policy takes place. All workshops, trainings, consultations should be made remotely using the online tools and platforms as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, phone, etc.
Onsite meetings and training sessions are forbidden.
Potential Additional Policy Changes
If public health conditions worsen, Search Explained’s workplace policies may be further amended. This would be done to address the effects of more widespread illness or absences, more frequent needs for self-isolation or quarantine, disruption of care arrangements or Search Explained’s priorities for pay continuity. Staff will be notified as necessary of such changes and should also check this page for updates.
Further Questions
If you have further questions, please contact office [at] searchexplained.com
Agnes Molnar
Managing Consultant, CEO
Search Explained
