Managing COVID-19 Related Employee Absences
March 13, 2020
The University is continuing to monitor the national response to COVID-19 and keeping
abreast of CDC recommendations as they evolve. At present, the University is requiring employees to self-isolate for 14 days if they
are returning to the U.S. from another country, a cruise, or are showing symptoms
of COVID-19 infection.
Employees who live with or have been in close contact with anyone who may have been
exposed to the COVID-19 virus are encouraged to voluntarily self-isolate.
Recommendations regarding effective self-isolation practices can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html.
Employees who self-isolate will be expected to telecommute to the extent possible.
Employees who cannot perform work via telecommuting will receive paid administrative
leave for up to two weeks. No employee will receive more than his or her regular salary
or wages. The University will revisit these practices and announce further decisions
within the next two weeks.
Employees who choose to self-isolate should contact their immediate supervisor and
the Office of Human Resources through this online link. The University may require a physician’s statement of illness before approving paid
administrative leave.
Employees who do not meet any of the above criteria may be eligible for two weeks
of paid administrative leave if other circumstances necessitate them to remain away
from work, e.g., child care or elder care. These employees should contact their immediate
supervisor and the Office of Human Resources through this online link, and their eligibility for paid administrative leave will be evaluated on a case-by-case
basis.
If an employee is unsure if their situation or symptoms may necessitate self-isolation,
then they are encouraged to phone the Tennessee Department of Health’s COVID-19 hotline
at 877.857.2945 and their personal health care provider to seek guidance.
All health plan members have access to the carrier-sponsored medical telehealth programs
through BCBST and Cigna. You can talk to a doctor by phone, computer, or tablet from
anywhere, at any time. The cost is less than a typical office visit. To register for
telehealth, please visit this link for specific instructions: https://www.tn.gov/partnersforhealth/health-options/telehealth.html.
On a situational basis, the functions, services, and personnel considered essential
will be determined and communicated by department heads. Requests from essential personnel
may require additional review. Temporary and student employees are not eligible for
paid administrative leave. Paid administrative leave should not result in overtime
compensation if an employee also performs work from a remote location while in isolation.
Steve Schwab, MD
Chancellor