Employee Return-to-Workplace Guide

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Tuesday, Aug 04, 2020

Today we begin a new series of communications aimed at sharing important information about the Fall 2020 semester. I encourage all members of the FAU community to read each message and access the various documents and other pertinent materials that will be distributed in the coming weeks and months.

The  Employee Return-to-Workplace Guide  is now finalized and available on the  FAU coronavirus website . All employees are expected to fully comply with the policies, protocols and guidelines outlined in the document. Those policies include completing a COVID-19 Prevention Training course and a Wellness Attestation/Check-In form prior to returning to the workplace. Details on the trainings and attestation pieces will be sent in an upcoming email.

It is important to note this guide only offers parameters for how our faculty and staff will return to their workplaces. It does not give a timeline for various units to bring staff back to campuses, as supervisors will work with their teams to enact specific plans and strategies. In addition, faculty are receiving guidance from the provost’s office with regard to issues related to academic instruction.

There is not one plan that is right for every division, college, department or other unit of our university. Supervisors should talk with colleagues and make recommendations to the appropriate vice president, or college dean, regarding plans for the short- and long-term approach to work this fall.

Based on our health and safety guidelines, it will not be possible for everyone to return to work in every area each day. However, there will be an increased number of people on our campuses as a result of beginning the semester. Units should initially expand staff based on mission-critical operations, the ability to control and manage specific work environments, and the necessity to access on-site resources. Office spaces and layouts vary greatly and should factor into all plans.

Physical distancing will continue into the foreseeable future. Units or individuals that can effectively work remotely will likely do so when possible. As employees are instructed to return to on-campus work there are several options that can be considered to reduce population density, such as alternating days, staggered hours, and different arrival and departure times.

For those working on campus, whenever possible you should continue to avoid in-person meetings, to not gather in conference rooms or kitchen areas, and to remain flexible in adjusting schedules as required to perform university functions.  Face coverings   are required  in many situations when on campus and details are posted on the  guidance and services  page of the  coronavirus website .

The Department of Human Resources  staff is available to consult with supervisors and employees as necessary. Human Resources can be reached by calling  561-297-3057  or by email at  emprels@fau.edu .

A reminder that Human Resources also has launched a  Talent Share Program  that is designed to connect eligible FAU employees affected by a reduction in work with FAU colleges and units that have temporary projects or assignments.