COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

Employee Resources

HRS resources

Access COVID-19 leave and work information, as well as other human resource services, at hrs.wsu.edu. 

WSU Tri-Cities COVID-19 open forums every first Tuesday

WSU Tri-Cities hosts weekly COVID-19 open forums every first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. via Zoom. 

Check the Cougar Weekly Faculty and Staff E-Newsletter for the link to attend the Zoom forums. It is sent every Monday morning.

WSU system town halls

More information about upcoming WSU system town halls at experience.wsu.edu

Employee Rights – Families First Coronavirus Response Act

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA or ACT) requires employers to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded family leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19. These provisions apply April 1, 2020, through Dec. 31, 2020.

Share this link with your supervisors and employees: 

https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/WHD/posters/FFCRA_Poster_WH1422_Non-Federal.pdf 

HRS Disability Services – eventual return to in-person work

At this time, all employees who can work from home should work from home, however, those who have concerns about eventually returning to their work location due to a medical condition that places them in a higher risk group, those who are pregnant, or those who wish to seek ADA Reasonable Accommodations related to returning to the work location should visit the HRS Disability Services website or contact the HRS main line at 509-335-4521.  

For questions on available medical leave and provisions related to COVID-19, contact HRS Disability Services at HRS.disabilityservices@wsu.edu or 509-335-4521. More information related to COVID-19 higher risk groups can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, which has up-to-date information on risk factors and precautions.  

Employees who have other concerns related to COVID-19 and returning to work should submit to HRS using the COVID-19 Return to Work Concern Form. 

Event Determination Form for in-person on- and off-campus events

Until further notice, all university events, whether hosted on university property or off-site, will require review by the WSU Tri-Cities Environmental Health and Safety Office and approval by the WSU Tri-Cities incident command team.

Virtual-only events and virtual-only conferences will not require this approval. The approval process is designed to help ensure the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and guests.

Fill out the Event Determination Form

COVID-19 Virus Reporting

View & Download PDF Virus Reporting Document.

REQUIRED DAILY ATTESTATION AND COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

  • WSU employees must complete a daily COVID-19 attestation prior to returning to a WSU work location.
  • Supervisors must review the attestation report for their unit through myWSU to confirm completion.
  • Common symptoms of COVID-19 include: fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Other symptoms may include chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. View the CDC website for more symptoms.

 

WSU TRI-CITIES FACULTY AND STAFF EXPERIENCING COVID-19 SYMPTOMS

  1. Do not report to work (if at work, contact your supervisor or Human Resource Services HRS Disability Services atdisabilityservices@wsu.edu and indicate you are leaving work).
    1. Follow the departmental leave procedures to notify supervisor of needed leave.
    2. Employees are not required to disclose the specifics of a medical condition(s) when requesting needed leave.
  2. Isolate yourself from others, maintain 6 feet of distance, and wear a mask.
  3. Contact your Healthcare Provider in advance of your arrival to schedule a test.
  4. Isolate until you receive the test results.
    1. If the test results are negative, adhere to the Health Care Provider’s recommendation, and return to work upon resolution of symptoms unless otherwise directed.
    2. If the test results are positive, continue isolation until fever free for 24 hours without medication, anduntil the symptoms have gotten better, and until it has been 10 days since symptoms first appeared.

 

IF IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO RECENTLY TESTED POSITIVE

  • You should stay home and away from others. Check yourself for fever, cough, and shortness of breath for 14 days from the last day you had close contact with the person. Do not go to work or school, and avoid public places for 14 days (self-quarantine).
  • Experiencing symptoms? Contact your health care provider for a test and tell them you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are now sick.

 

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPORTING

  1. Supervisors must review, at least daily, the attestation report for their unit to confirm all on site employees have completed their attestation.
    1. Supervisors must follow up with employees who are expected to be on site, but have not completed their attestation.
  2. If an employee provides notification that they are symptomatic for COVID-19, ensure the employee is separated from other employees and directed to self-isolate at home/location away from work site.
    1. The supervisor should refer the employee to HRS Disability Services (disabilityservices@wsu.edu).
      1. HRS Disability Services will provide the employee with information on leave options.
      2. HRS Disability Services will work with the employee, COVID-19 Incident Commander, WSU Tri-Cities Environmental Health and Safety, and/or other campus’ personnel as appropriate, to address or provide guidance on contact tracing and environmental cleaning.
    2. If an employee provides notification that they are COVID-19 positive, supervisors/departments are to contact Scott Tomren, WSU Tri-Cities campus safety and security officer, at stomren@wsu.edu regarding contact tracing and/or performing disinfecting protocols in accordance with CDC recommendations.

 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

QUESTIONS