H1N1 Information For Employees

      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that H1N1 (“swine flu”) infection rates may double those of normal years (perhaps as high as 40 percent). Reports of H1N1 infections at UC—even before the term begins—and at other US campuses well before the typical flu season suggest that the CDC predictions may be fulfilled.  Following the advice of CDC for institutions of higher education (http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/school/preventfactsheet.html), the University has already notified students that they should not attend classes if they have flu symptoms.  The same is true for employees of the University. Employees should not come to work, or should leave work after notifying their immediate supervisor if they develop flu symptoms during the work day.  Following that advice may greatly reduce the spread of the virus.

      The University’s commonly recognized responsibilities include keeping UC open and our students learning—despite disruptions caused by absenteeism.  Less obvious but equally serious, though, is our duty to protect public health.  Achieving these responsibilities requires that we adapt to these new circumstances.  Like many other employers, the University is taking special measures to keep our staff, students and faculty safe and healthy.

      The following guidelines for employees are designed to help protect public health while maintaining operations:

• Observe the flu prevention guidelines posted throughout campus.
• Stay home if you exhibit flu-like symptoms.  Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, unusual fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting.
• Stay home from work and other campus activities until you have been free of fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications. 
• Such absences from work will not count as attendance policy violations. 
• If you are eligible to accrue sick leave, but have no available sick leave balance, you will be advanced up to 5 days of sick leave.  The advanced days will be deducted from your future accruals of sick leave.  If your symptoms persist, you may be granted an additional 5 days of advanced leave by your immediate supervisor.  Your supervisor will make arrangements with the Payroll Department. You can only claim flu for one series of consecutive absences.
• If you go home, are sent home, or stay home due to flu-like symptoms, a release from a private Health Care provider is not required to return to work.
• If the presence of H1N1 has been confirmed in your specific work area, and you are at high risk because you are pregnant or a have chronic medical or immunosuppressive condition validated by a health-care provider’s statement, you shall be granted the use of sick leave to avoid contact with the virus.

      UC’s Emergency Services area within Public Safety has gathered together additional information and links on these matters, as has our University Health Services office.

      If you have any questions, please contact HR Employee and Labor Relations at (513) 556-6372.