Supervisor information

Supervisors are an important aspect of health and wellness guidance as infection control measures.

Refer to the university health and wellness guidance. There are a number of practices to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Supervisors should regularly remind employees reporting to work on campus that they are not permitted to report to work if they are sick or have illness symptoms of the coronavirus. If an employee does report to work and is exhibiting symptoms, supervisors may require employees to leave the workplace.

Supervisors also should remind employees that they should notify the supervisor promptly — via telephone or email — if the employee tests positive for COVID-19; is exposed to a sick family member, roommate or other close contact who has tested positive for COVID-19; has been tested for COVID-19 and is awaiting results; or has recently traveled from a high-risk area.

Supervisors may ask employees who report feeling ill at work, or who call in sick, whether they have any COVID-19-related symptoms so that the supervisor can determine whether the employee must stay away from work. The supervisor’s discussion about the employee’s health symptoms should be limited to asking about the presence of only those COVID-19-related symptoms.

Supervisors may not mandate that an employee not report to work because the employee disclosed, or the supervisor is aware of, a medical condition that is unrelated to COVID-19, if such condition ordinarily would not necessitate the employee’s absence. Supervisors shall not inquire about underlying medical conditions. Inquiries about reasonable accommodations should be directed to ADA coordinator at charlott@k-state.edu.

Any questions about whether an employee should be permitted to work should be directed to the department’s HCS liaison and/or Employee Relations, Human Capital Services.

The university has guidance for returning to campus and returning to in-person classes and university activities.

The university has guidance for returning to campus and returning to in-person classes and university activities.

The university has updated remote work guidance and resources to support decision-making about remote work.

1. Employees performing essential functions on campus are expected to continue to report to work, if the employee is not on approved leave.

2. As of December 31, 2020, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, or FFCRA, expired. Eligible employees are encouraged to utilize accrued leave for any pandemic-related challenges. Supervisors and unit leaders are encouraged to be as flexible as possible when employees may need time away from work.

3. If an employee requests to take sick leave, FMLA leave or other leave for a serious COVID-19-related health reason, you should direct that employee to the department HCS liaison.

4. Supervisors may not require an employee to report to work when that employee is eligible to and elects to take leave under the federal leave laws, regardless of the extent of the employee’s job duties, lack of coverage, or other business reasons. Likewise, supervisors shall not interfere, discourage or otherwise try to influence whether an employee elects to take the leave or for how long. Retaliation of any kind for an employee electing to take the leave is strictly prohibited.

5. Supervisors shall not require the employees on leave to find coverage for a work shift that they will miss.

6. Supervisors should direct the employee to the department HCS liaison if the employee has questions about whether an employee qualifies for leave.

7. Employees are to provide notice of the need for leave as soon as practicable to the extent the need for leave is foreseeable.

8. If the employee is asking for changes or modifications to the workplace related to a medical condition or disability, the supervisor may contact the University’s ADA coordinator at charlott@k-state.edu.

9. Supervisors may inform employees that Lafene Health Center is a resource they may utilize.

10. If employees express concern about safety or other conditions of their workplace that the supervisor cannot efficiently or effectively resolve, the supervisor or the employee may contact Employee Relations, Human Capital Services.

11. If an employee requests resource information on COVID-19 generally, on health impacts, or about social distancing and other personal risk reduction strategies, supervisors may provide the employee with guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department for Health and Environment and Lafene Health Center.

The university has policy and guidance to help employees and supervisors understand the options available to high-risk employees.

Supervisors may inform employees that Lafene Health Center is a resource they may utilize.

If employees express concern about safety or other conditions of their workplace that the supervisor cannot efficiently or effectively resolve, the supervisor or the employee may contact Employee Relations, Human Capital Services.

If an employee requests resource information on COVID-19 generally, on health impacts, or about social distancing and other personal risk reduction strategies, supervisors may provide the employee with guidance from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kansas Department for Health and Environment and Lafene Health Center.