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COVID-19 Updates from Kaweah Health Human Resources and Employee Health


Absenteeism related to the COVID-19 virus will not count as an occurrence under the Attendance Policy HR.184.


For All Medical Staff and Employees

Updated: Tue 3-24-2020

Labor Pool:
  1. Employees who are employed in a service that has closed or has reduced staff are being offered work in the Labor Pool.
  2. If employees are offered work but decline the offer, they will likely not be eligible for State Unemployment Benefits. Eligibility requires that the employee be “ready to work.”
  3. If an employee chooses not to work, they may utilize PTO. Employees should strongly consider that accrued PTO may not last through the length of this COVID crisis. We understand that employees are concerned with exposure; we are as well. Please be assured that we are following all guidelines related to safety at work.
  4. Please contact the Command Center/Labor Pool at 786-4470 for an assignment in the Labor Pool.
  5. As the COVID crisis develops, the information above is subject to change.
All employees are required to self-monitor prior to reporting to every shift and we will provide thermometers soon (4,400 on order):
  1. Do you have a temperature of 100.4 or greater?
  2. Do you have a new onset dry, hacking cough in the last 24 hours?
  3. Have you experienced new onset shortness of breath in the last 24 hours?
  4. Have you had body aches and chills in the last 24 hours?
If at any time you have any of the above symptoms:
  1. Do not come to work.
  2. Call your Supervisor/Manager
  3. Call your physician/provider and follow their direction.
  4. Do not go to Employee Health. To contact Employee Health, e-mail is now preferred EmployeeHealth@kaweahhealth.org. You may call also Employee Health at extension 2458.
  5. Call the Leave of Absence team at extension 2274 for assistance.
If at any time symptoms develop while at work:

Report to your Supervisor/Manager or the House Supervisor, clock out, leave work, and call your physician/provider for further direction. Also call Employee Health at 2458 for tracking purposes and to answer any questions you may have.

If you do not have symptoms, but have been exposed to COVID-19:
  1. You may report to work and self-monitor for fever above 100 degrees, cough and shortness of breath. Wear a surgical mask while at work.
  2. To contact Employee Health, e-mail is now preferred EmployeeHealth@kaweahhealth.org. You may call also Employee Health at extension 2458. They are available to answer questions you may have.
If you are age 65 or over:
  1. If age 65 or older and have chronic conditions, please call the LOA Team at extension 2274. You may be eligible for State Disability Insurance.
  2. If age 65 or older and have no chronic conditions, you may work. However, if you choose not to work, please call the LOA Team at extension 2274 for Personal Leave; you may use accrued PTO at your choice.
If you are pregnant:

We advise that you do not provide care for a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 individual or patient.

If your physician/provider places you off work because you have symptoms or if you are subject to a quarantine:

You may be eligible for State Disability Insurance benefits from day one and may use accrued EIB and then accrued PTO for coordination of pay. Report updated information on your off-work status to your Supervisor/Manager and call the Leave of Absence team at extension 2274 for assistance. The Leave of Absence team will notify Employee Health.

If you are off work to care for a family member who is ill or for a quarantined family member with COVID-19:

You may be eligible for Paid Family Leave for supplemental pay and may use an additional 24 hours of accrued EIB/Kin and then accrued PTO. Call the Leave of Absence team at extension 2274 for assistance.

If you are off work because your child’s school is closed:

We have developed a list of resources. Please e-mail Bbedolla@kaweahhealth.org. If off work, you may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance because of reduced hours at work. You may use accrued PTO for coordination of pay. Call the Leave of Absence team at extension 2274 for assistance.

If you plan to travel or have traveled:
  1. We strongly recommend that you do not travel at this time. If you have traveled out of the area by public transportation, such as airline, train, bus, or ship/cruise ship, you are required to be screened by Employee Health before you return to work. If your return causes you to miss any part of a shift because Employee Health is not open when you return, you will be subject to an attendance occurrence. Plan accordingly. To contact Employee Health, e-mail is now preferred EmployeeHealth@kaweahhealth.org. You may call also Employee Health at extension 2458.
  2. If you travel by personal car, especially to those areas experiencing a high level of virus, please self-monitor for fever of 100.4 degrees, coughing, or shortness of breath.
  3. If at any time you have any of the noted symptoms:
    1. Do not come to work.
    2. Call your Supervisor/Manager
    3. Call your physician/provider and follow their direction.
    4. Do not go to Employee Health. To contact Employee Health, e-mail is now preferred EmployeeHealth@kaweahhealth.org. You may call also Employee Health at extension 2458.
    5. Call the Leave of Absence team at extension 2274 for assistance

If your concern is not addressed here, please call Human Resources at extension 2274. You may also e-mail to the group e-mail Human Resources.