COVID-19 Information for Staff + Faculty

Below, we have important points about health and safety. Read on to learn how we’re keeping you safe.

You are not required to disclose the specifics of your medical condition to your supervisor or instructor. This is true of COVID-19 and any other illness.

However, you should follow all advice issued by the public health authority, most importantly that you stay home and self-isolate. If you are scheduled to attend a class or work on campus, contact your supervisor to report that you are ill as you normally would.

If you feel well enough to telework or attend class remotely, you may be able to do so.

No. Information about medical conditions is considered private personal information.

If an individual has been diagnosed with COVID-19, the public health authority is already aware.

If a student reports that they have COVID-19, encourage them to follow the advice of their doctor and public health authorities by staying home. Offer extensions and accommodations as needed.

If you have questions about providing accommodations, or other concerns not addressed by this FAQ, reach out to Kevin Bird, Registrar, Student Services (kbird@ecuad.ca) for support.

Employees who disclose they have COVID-19, or who have been ordered to self-isolate, should be offered sick leave while they recover. If possible, employees who feel well enough to do so should be supported to work from home.

To maintain a safe environment for everyone on campus, they must not come to campus for any reason. Individuals can only return to campus after a public health authority has advised them it is safe to do so.

For more information on self-isolation, see the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

If you have questions about sick leave, accommodations, or other concerns not addressed by this FAQ, reach out to Benita Ceresny, HR Advisor, Benefits (bceresney@ecuad.ca) for support.

Report the unsafe act or condition to your supervisor. Supervisors and ECU, as the employer, have a responsibility to investigate the matter.

If you still find something unsafe after a supervisor has said otherwise, an investigation will take place. This investigation must take place in the presence of the employee and a worker representative of the joint health and safety committee, or a worker chosen by your union.

If there is no safety committee or trade union representative available, you may choose to have a colleague present at the investigation.

If you are not satisfied that conditions are safe after the investigation, WorkSafeBC must be notified. They will take steps to find a solution.

Faculty and staff who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 due to their work activities should notify their supervisor.

Supervisors will then contact Zachary Cameron, Manager of Safety, Security and Emergency Management (zacharycameron@ecuad.ca), who can provide guidance on reporting a claim to WorkSafeBC.

We have developed telework guidelines and other resources to help with the transition to working remotely. You can find them at ecuad.ca/telework. We will update and add to these in the days and weeks ahead.

We also want to acknowledge that employees may feel separated or even isolated when working from home. We encourage you to explore solutions to address this concern. You can access resources through ECU’s Employee & Family Assistance Program at www.workhealthlife.com or by calling 1.844.880.9142.

ECU has developed a Telecommuting Framework to meet the needs of our staff and non-teaching faculty, many of whom would like to continue flexible work arrangements into the Fall. The framework is a tool for employees and supervisors to discuss if a telework arrangement is appropriate, and develop an agreement.

This is a challenging and uncertain time. It is not uncommon to experience higher levels of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. If this is your experience, we encourage you to seek help and support.

Staff and faculty can use the services available through our Employee and Family Assistance Plan by visiting the EFAP website or calling 1.844.880.9142.

You can also consult a list of tips for coping with COVID-19 from Morneau Shepell.

If you are in distress, you can chat with the Crisis Centre online or call them anytime at 1.800.784.2433.

The BC government also recently announced a funding boost for virtual mental health supports during the pandemic.

Current supports are listed in full on their website, and include the following:

Virtual Mental Health Supports for Everyone

BounceBack™

BounceBack™ provides free access to online, video and phone-based coaching and skills-building program. Seniors, adults and youth who are experiencing low mood, mild to moderate depression, anxiety, stress, or worry, can receive care.

Virtual Counselling Services

Virtual community counselling for individuals or groups at low or no cost.

Peer Support and System Navigation

Virtual mentoring and goal-oriented supports offered by peer support and system navigation workers.

Living Life to the Full

Free access to Living Life to the Full peer support and practical skills courses for coping with stress, problem solving and boosting mood. The 8-week course is led by a trained facilitator.

BC COVID-19 Mental Health Self-Assessment Tool

Available April 20, 2020, a set of mental health screening self-tests alongside the COVID-19 self-assessment tool.

Virtual Mental Health Supports for Seniors

bc211

The Province has expanded funding for bc211, a province-wide information and referral service. It matches volunteers to seniors whose support network has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The service takes calls from people who would like to volunteer to help seniors in their community with basic needs, including grocery shopping and pharmacy drop-offs and check-ins.

Virtual Mental Health Supports for Victims of Family or Sexual Violence

VictimLink BC

Immediate 24/7 crisis support for victims of family or sexual violence is available by phone through VictimLink BC’s 24/7 telephone service. This service also provides information and referrals for all victims of crime.

Virtual Mental Health Supports for Indigenous Peoples

First Nations Doctor of the Day

Primary health care support is available seven days per week from 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. for B.C. First Nations citizens, communities, and service providers. This First Nations Health Authority program is for people impacted by COVID-19 and who are unable to reach their regular primary care provider or do not have one.