Notice to Campus Presidents

Dear Campus Presidents:

As we continue to monitor the COVID 19 pandemic and the safety and well-being of our faculty, staff and students remains our top priority.  Please utilize the following message should an employee find themselves in a self-quarantine situation.  

As we continue to monitor closely the emergence of the COVID-19 and given the uncertainty of the virus, and the fact that the seasonal influenza (flu) virus is also widespread, we are taking proactive steps to address a number of business concerns. First and foremost, we want to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of employees, students, visitors or others.

The University will continue to provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout the workplace and in common areas. Cleaning sprays and wipes will also be available to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces such as telephones and keyboards.

Employees are encouraged to use telephone and video conferencing instead of face-to-face meetings as much as possible during this outbreak. Support services are available to employees who need assistance with this technology.

It is critical that employees do not report to work while they are experiencing respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills or fatigue. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that employees remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications. Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. We provide Paid time off (PTO) and Personal time off (Faculty) to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness. Employees who report to work ill will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.

Should an employee find themselves in a self-quarantine predicament the University is prepared to handle as follows:

• While we currently do not offer formal telework arrangements, Keiser University will consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from employees to work from home during this time. While not all positions are conducive to telework, those positions with primary job duties that can be effectively performed remotely will be given consideration.
• Should your position not be conducive to telework, PTO and/or personal faculty will be utilized to cover time away from the office.  If for any reason PTO and/or personal faculty hours are depleted, the University will allow the “borrowing” or “advancement” of future PTO and/or personal time off to cover self-quarantine days.

Please note all other illnesses should follow our standard practices as addressed in the employee handbook.  If you have any questions or concerns please contact your Campus President and/or Manager.

As a reminder, please promote everyday preventive health behaviors on and off campus:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue. If you don’t have a tissue, cough and sneeze into the inside of your elbow, not your hands.
• Stay home when sick. (if your student is out, please work with them on assignments, etc.)
• Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.