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Dear Board Staff,
As we move toward the gradual reopening of Board offices, I have new updates to share. Please read this message in full so you don’t miss any important information, including new, mandatory protocols for staff returning to offices.
Three additional offices reopening
On Monday, a small number of employees will be returning to our Binghamton, Rochester and Syracuse offices. This week, we learned that the Capital Region and Buffalo have also been approved for Phase 2 reopenings. For us, this means a small number of Board employees in our Menands, Schenectady and Buffalo offices can be directed to return to the office starting Monday, June 15. If this applies to you, your supervisor will notify you of your days/shifts in the office by Monday, June 8, so you can make any necessary arrangements.
New safety procedures
To protect the health and safety of all Board employees working in our offices, we are implementing new procedures under reopening guidance recently issued by New York State.
Starting Monday, June 8, all staff members who enter a Board office must complete a brief health screening prior to, or within the first hour of, the start of each workday.
- Do you have a body temperature above 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit?
- Do you have any symptoms of COVID-19?
- Have you had any known close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days?
- Have you tested positive for COVID-19 through a diagnostic test in the past 14 days?
- You can perform the screening via self-assessment prior to coming to the office. This is preferred, but you may also perform the screening on site with a touch-free thermometer that will be available for your use at the Security desk.
- Your results must be sent to Human Resources within one hour of starting your shift, preferably by email to HumanResourcesManagementBureau@wcb.ny.gov (if you can’t access email, you can call 518-474-2685). HR will contact any employees who fail to report results on time and they must screen immediately.
Important:
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If you answered NO to all screening questions, you can simply report to HR that you have passed the daily screening.
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If you answered YES to any of the screening questions, you should not come into the office, or return home if you screened on site. HR must be notified and may require further information. Follow up with your medical care provider for medical advice and/or treatment as appropriate.
Office cleanings
Over the past several weeks, all Workers’ Compensation Board buildings, whether State-owned or leased, have been thoroughly disinfected following Office of General Services (OGS) guidelines. OGS will continue the cleaning and disinfection of high-density and high-touch areas at an increased frequency. These areas include:
- building and elevator lobbies;
- elevator interiors, buttons and surfaces;
- restrooms;
- common area furniture and fixtures, doorknobs, switch plates, and countertops;
- shared conference spaces; and
- building and suite entrances, mats, handrails, turnstiles, and waste receptacles.
Facilities will also coordinate with HR regarding supplemental cleanings as part of contact tracing and suspected infected employee protocols.
Personal protective equipment – and personal responsibility
Doing what we can to protect ourselves and our colleagues is a responsibility we all share. All Board staff are now required to wear a mask or face covering in common areas and areas where social distancing guidelines cannot be met. You can bring your own covering or pick up a free mask from Security as you enter the building; gloves will also be available for those who want them, and hand sanitizer will be widely available. Please sanitize your hands frequently, clean your personal workstations and most importantly, stay home if you feel sick.
ACTION REQUIRED: New mandatory training
The Governor’s Office of Employee Relations (GOER) has developed a 12-minute online training for all employees with more information on COVID-19, the new daily health screening process and other ways we can create and maintain a clean and safe work environment. The course is called New York State COVID- 19 Response: Return to Work Training and is available in the Statewide Learning Management System (SLMS) under course code GOER-COVID19-RTW. All Board employees have been automatically enrolled so you can launch the course from your “My learning” page in SLMS. Board employees must complete this training before returning to the office.
Thank you, in advance, for your support and cooperation in implementing these important new policies. If you have any questions or concerns, please raise them to your supervisor or to HR.
Best,
Mary Beth
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