WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS AND YOUR EMPLOYMENT
As we return to work and begin this “new normal” in our workplace, we understand that many employees are concerned about safety as well as the changes to company policies and procedures that we have implemented. We want every employee to be assured that we are taking your concerns and the well-being of our employees seriously. This is a general summary of frequently asked questions. We encourage you to review the COVID-19 Handbook which you have been provided for more details about our policies and procedures.
What is the “coronavirus” and how is it transmitted?
The 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) causes respiratory illness in people and can spread from person-to-person. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the virus is principally spread person-to-person mainly via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how influenza and other viruses that cause respiratory illness spread. It may also spread when a person touches a surface or object that has virus upon it and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth or in other ways.
How can I help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses like the coronavirus?
- While various vaccines have recently been approved for COVID-19, it is not anticipated that widespread application of these vaccines will occur prior to mid-2021.
- The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.
- The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
- Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
- Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks.
- These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
What are the symptoms?
- The most common COVID-19 symptoms include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fever or chills, muscle or body aches, headache, sore throat, vomiting or diarrhea, new loss of taste or smell.
Do I have to wear a mask at work?
Matura Farrington provides clean and undamaged face coverings and asks that they are properly worn over the nose and mouth by employees that are not fully vaccinated when they are indoors or in vehicles, and where required by orders from the CDPH or local health department.
Employees required to wear face coverings in a workplace may remove them under the following conditions:
- When an employee is alone in a room.
- While eating and drinking at the workplace, provided employees are at least six feet apart and outside air supply to the area, if indoors, has been maximized to the extent possible.
- Employees wearing respiratory protection in accordance with section 5144 or other Title 8 safety orders.
- Employees who cannot wear face coverings due to a medical or mental health condition or disability, or who are hearing-impaired or communicating with a hearing-impaired person.
- Specific tasks which cannot feasibly be performed with a face covering. This exception is limited to the time period in which such tasks are actually being performed.
Handwashing & Sanitizer
- Employee should frequently wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer if you do not have immediate access to a sink or hand washing facility.
- Please note that hand sanitizer does not work if your hands are soiled.
What if I am feeling sick but am not sure if I have coronavirus?
- Do not report to the worksite if you are experiencing any symptoms.
- If you are at work and experiencing symptoms you should go home and notify Matura Farrington HR Department and your supervisor at your worksite.
- If you are home and have any symptoms, you should stay home and notify Matura Farrington HR Department and your supervisor at your worksite. You may be entitled to paid sick leave in accordance with company policy and applicable law. You should contact our office information and questions related to these benefits.
- You are encouraged to get tested if you believe you have been exposed.
- If you test positive for the coronavirus you should immediately contact Matura Farrington HR and your worksite supervisor so that we can determine if you have been at your worksite in the past 14 days to identify co-worker and anyone else at the worksite with whom you may have been in close contact so that we may follow the proper exposure notification process.
What if I come in contact with someone who has been exposed to the virus or feels sick?
- Unvaccinated employees should stay home and notify Matura Farrington HR Department and your worksite supervisor.
- Unvaccinated employees should not return to your worksite without seeking medical attention/advice.
- Unvaccinated employees who have been potentially exposed should self-quarantine for 10 days.
- In some cases, Matura Farrington provides access to COVID-19 testing, via Matura Farrington’s Concentra workers compensation account. Employees should contact Matura Farrington’s HR to discuss testing options. In addition, employee can find the necessary forms and nearest clinic here: https://www.concentra.com/patients/forms-for-your-visit/. Alternatively, employees can call 211 or visit https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/ for help locating a free testing site. Employees can also ask their direct supervisor at the client worksite about COVID-19 testing options.
- You may be entitled to paid sick leave in accordance with company policy and applicable law. You should contact our office information and questions related to these benefits.
- If you test positive for the coronavirus you should immediately contact Matura Farrington HR and your worksite supervisor so that we can determine if you have been at your worksite in the past 14 days to identify co-worker and anyone else at the worksite with whom you may have been in close contact so that we may follow the proper exposure notification process.
When can I return to work if I have tested positive for COVID-19?
- COVID-19 cases with symptoms will not return to work until all the following have occurred:
- At least 24 hours have passed since a fever of 100.4 °F. or higher has resolved without the use of fever-reducing medications, and
- COVID-19 symptoms have improved, and
- At least 10 days have passed since COVID-19 symptoms first appeared.
- COVID-19 cases who tested positive but never developed symptoms will not return to work until a minimum of 10 days have passed since the date of specimen collection of their first positive COVID-19 test.
- A negative COVID-19 test will not be required for an employee to return to work once the requirements for “cases with symptoms” or “cases who tested positive but never developed symptoms” (above) have been met.
- Persons who had a close contact may return to work as follows:
- Close contact but never developed symptoms: when 10 days have passed since the last known close contact.
- Close contact with symptoms: when the “cases with symptoms” criteria (above) have been met, unless the following are true:
- The person tested negative for COVID-19 using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 test with specimen taken after the onset of symptoms; and
- At least 10 days have passed since the last known close contact, and
- The person has been symptom-free for at least 24 hours, without using fever-reducing medications.
How will positive cases of COVID-19 be handled in the workplace?
- Despite all precautionary measures, there is always a risk of workplace exposure to communicable diseases.
- Matura Farrington will work with our clients to ensuring that COVID-19 cases are excluded from the workplace until our return-to-work requirements are met.
- Matura Farrington will work with our clients to exclude employees that had a close contact from the workplace with the following exceptions:
- Employees who were fully vaccinated before the close contact and who do not develop COVID-19 symptoms.
- COVID-19 cases who returned to work per our return-to-work criteria and have remained free of COVID-19 symptoms, for 90 days after the initial onset of COVID-19 symptoms, or for COVID-19 cases who never developed COVID-19 symptoms, for 90 days after the first positive test.
If I am prohibited from working what happens to my pay and benefits?
- The Matura Farrington HR Department will provide you with answers to these questions regarding your pay and benefits while you are unable to work due to illness, exposure, and quarantining from COVID-19. You should contact our office to discuss your circumstances and allow us to address your questions.
- You may be entitled to paid sick leave in accordance with company policy and applicable law. In addition, the Company will provide you with information regarding COVID-19-related benefits to which you may be entitled under applicable federal, state, or local laws. This includes any benefits available under workers’ compensation law, the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Labor Code sections 248.1 and 248.5, Labor Code sections 3212.86 through 3212.88, local governmental requirements, and the Company’s own leave policies.
- If your exposure to COVID-19 is work related and you are excluded from the worksite to quarantine, Matura Farrington will follow all laws and regulations related to continuing and maintaining earnings, seniority, and all other employee rights and benefits, including the employee’s right to their former job status, as if the employee had not been removed from their job.
Is it safe to return to work?
- Your worksite (our client) should be taking precautions to ensure their workplace is safe and should be following federal health and safety guidelines as well as guidance from state and local governments.
- Your worksite (our client) may implement practices such as employee health screenings and social distancing practices to keep their workplace healthy.
- You should practice all the safety precautions provided to you in the Matura Farrington COVID-19 Prevention Program to help reduce the risk of exposure.
What if I have concern about the safety of my assignment worksite?
- As your employer, it is important to remember that your work environment and health are important to both us and our clients. We encourage all employees to contact us with any information, or to report any events, that are not consistent with the material provided to you in our COVID-19 Handbook, or that you believe may present a safety issue for you.
- The Company allows employees and authorized employee representatives to participate in the identification and evaluation of COVID-19 hazards by the following methods and means: Covid-19 Safety Checklist for Office Workspaces “Attachment A” to this document, or by contacting Karen Farrington, (213) 996-3720, [email protected]
- Employees should not fear retaliation, including loss of employment, for providing such information.
What if I am at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19?
- Employees who are high risk for COVID-19 should consider contacting the Matura Farrington HR department to address any accommodation needs.
- Employees who may be high-risk should be especially careful to protect themselves by following the recommendations in our COVID-19 Prevention Program with special attention to Employee Preventative Steps.
- As part of its commitment to make reasonable accommodations, Matura Farrington wishes to participate in a timely, good faith, interactive process with an employee to determine effective reasonable accommodations, if any, that can be made in response to a request for accommodations an employee may need due to the coronavirus pandemic. Employees are invited to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made to assist them to perform the essential functions of the position they seek or occupy. They should contact the Matura Farrington HR Department as soon as possible to request the opportunity to participate in a timely interactive process.
HELPFUL RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
There are several resources to assist you in keeping up with the latest facts related to the coronavirus.
The company is monitoring the situation closely and will also provide updates as needed.
- CDC- COVID-19 Website: https://www.cdc.go v/coro na virus/2019-nCoV/
- Travelers’ Health Website: https://wwwnc .cdc.go v/tra ve l
- Health Alert Network: https://emergency.cdc.go v/ha n/
- OSHA Guidance: https://www.os go v/SL TC/covid-19/
- World Health Organization: https://www.who.i nt/
- CDC Travel Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html#travel-3
