→ Faculty and Staff FAQ
Special Work and Sick Leave Guidance and Policies
Belmont University wants to encourage all staff and faculty to review the materials and good health guidelines about preventing and managing the H1N1 flu. In the event of wide-spread illness that impacts the university, Belmont will continue as much as possible to enforce current leave policies but may also implement some special work place policies:
• Staff should report to their supervisor within the first hour of the work day when they will be absent due to their own or their family member’s illness. Except in emergencies, please call your supervisor and speak directly to him/her and do not leave voicemails.
• Faculty should also report to their department chair or to the person named by the Dean for their college as early as possible when they will miss a class due to their own or their family member’s illness.
• Staff or faculty employees should contact the Office of Human Resources to file for FMLA if they will be absent for more than five consecutive days for their own or their family member’s illness (for FMLA a family member is defined as a spouse, dependent child, or parent). Additional information and forms can be found on the Human Resources Web site.
• Supervisors of staff and faculty should notify Human Resources to provide information about the numbers of employees out with flu related absences.
• All HIPAA privacy guidelines will be met. In the event of an emergency situation, the department of health and other federal and local law enforcement agencies may request additional health information details about an employee.
• At the staff member’s supervisor or dean’s discretion and approval, the employee may telecommute and work from home on a temporary basis. All overtime must be preapproved and the employee should keep in close contact with the supervisor for all work assignments and to keep track of their work time.
• Taking care of a sick person in your home – From CDC (click here).
Special Guidance for Belmont University Faculty and Staff Concerning H1N1 Flu ("Swine Flu")
Belmont University wants all staff and faculty to be aware of the guidelines and special policies that may need to be implemented in regards to the H1N1 influenza. The following information and recommendations are from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Additional information and guidance may be found here.
• The symptoms of the novel influenza A (H1N1) flu virus in people are similar to the symptoms of seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. A significant number of people who have been infected with this virus also have reported diarrhea and vomiting.
• Stay home if you are sick. If you have symptoms of influenza-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities (your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine). Keep away from others as much as possible. This is to keep from making others sick.
• Employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with novel H1N1 flu can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill. Employees who are pregnant or have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema should call their health care provider for advice.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can be used if soap and water are not available.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Avoid close contact with sick people. If an employee suspects that they have been exposed to a sick person with novel H1N1 influenza they may continue to go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day and should notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill.
• If an employee becomes ill while traveling, notify your supervisor. If outside the U.S., contact medical provider or overseas medical assistance companies to assist in finding an appropriate medical provider in that country.
• Please review all information and guidelines from Belmont’s Student Health Services and materials from the CDC websites provided above. Other work-related information may be provided through the Offices of Communications, Human Resources and the Provost’s Office.
