COVID – Staff quarantine 5 days or NOT…?
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When staff report COVID, is anyone “requiring” them to stay off work for 5 days from the onset of symptoms or if asymptomatic, from first day of a positive test result? If so, how have you handled push-back from staff about using sick leave?
We still quarantine for 5 days. We also require masks to return if still have symptoms. We had so much free covid sick time during the pandemic that we really haven’t had push back on use of sick leave.
Yes, we too still quarantine the 5 days and require the face mask for 10 days upon their return. When we get push back, we advise employees that they can file a workers’ comp (WC) claim if they think that their exposure was work related. Our WC carrier needs a positive PCR test and confirmation that the employee was identified as directly exposed at work, either by another staff member or student. If WC claim is accepted, then the employee is eligible for Industrial Accident & Illness leave (IA) – their personal sick leave is restored and IA used for the absence.
Also, is anybody still requiring the self-certification from employees to return to work after a positive COVID?
Thank you for all the great feedback! We do not require testing to return to work after a positive result.
We shared Suggested messaging for staff inquiries-
If an employee reports that they
contracted COVID from work, (not all positive cases)
refer them to Early Intervention Nurse intake line.• Per the State, Supplemental Paid Sick Leave (SPSL) expired 12/31/2022.
• Filing a WC claim for COVID does not guarantee replacement of sick leave.
• Per AB 1751: Existing law requires an employee to exhaust their paid sick leave benefits and meet specified certification requirements before receiving any temporary disability benefits. AB 1751 expires 1/1/2024.
• Staff are to follow the district’s policy on reporting positive COVID cases. Contact tracing, exposure notifications and recordkeeping are some of the many elements still in effect until 2/3/2025 per Cal/OSHA.
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