H1N1 and KCTCS Addressing Concerns About Prevention And Absenteeism

Facts about H1N1 KY Public Health has declared H1N1 “Widespread” in Kentucky. Will affect up to 40% of population. Most affected age groups – 5 to 24 year olds, pregnant women, and people with pre-existing health conditions. Spread by coughing or sneezing. May be contagious 1 – 2 days prior to showing symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms Fever – 100 degrees or more Cough and/or sore throat Headache Chills Body aches Runny nose Diarrhea Vomiting

Prevention 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. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are spread this way.

Prevention Try to avoid close contact with sick people. If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you 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 to keep from making others sick.CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone

Prevention Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures. Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a week or so. Having a supply of over-the-counter medicines, alcohol-based hand rubs (for when soap and water are not available), tissues, and other related items could help you to avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick and contagious.

Prevention KCTCS employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with H1N1 flu should monitor their health every day and take everyday precautions, including washing their hands often with soap and water, especially after they cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, they should use an alcohol-based hand rub. If they become ill, they should notify their supervisor and stay home.

Awareness Posters and signage placed in all restrooms, break rooms, and other common areas to stress the importance of personal hygiene in combating the spread of flu and other communicable diseases. Periodic s and other communications about the H1N1 situation and recommended actions. Make employees aware of the Pandemic Flu Plan posted on the ECTC website.

Facility Hygiene Maintenance and custodial staff are cleaning and disinfecting more frequently each day (at least twice a day) all doors, meeting rooms, and common areas. Maintain a large quantity of masks, disinfectant wipes, and gloves to be made available to employees. All keys, visitor badges, and fleet vehicles disinfected after each use. Work spaces of employees documented to have H1N1 to be disinfected immediately.

Assisting Employees Who May Have the Flu KCTCS cares about the health and well-being of all employees and their family members. If an employee calls in to say he or she has the flu, supervisor should encourage the employee to stay at home/seek treatment/follow physician’s orders. Employees who come to work sick place others at risk and may be sent home if a fever is verified.

Assisting Employees Who May Have the Flu Supervisors should be aware of those in their immediate areas who are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and encourage those individuals to stay at home and/or seek medical treatment. Supervisors will be responsible for sending employees home who are feverish and exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

What Should Supervisors Do? If an employee shows the symptoms of the flu, ask if he or she is ill and recommend that the employee go home. If flu is suspected, employee will be told by supervisor he or she must leave according to KCTCS policy.

Human Resources Policies Relating to H1N1 Absences: KCTCS Serious Disease Sick Leave Policies (Faculty & Staff Sick/Temporary Disability Leave) Sick Leave Sharing Program Sick Leave Pool Program

Human Resources Policies Relating to H1N1 Absences: Please refer to these policies for additional information: KCTCS Family and Medical Leave Policy Unpaid Medical Leaves of Absence Faculty and Staff Vacation Leave Bereavement Policy

KCTCS Serious Disease Employees or students with infectious, long-term, life- threatening, or other serious diseases may continue their work as a part of the KCTCS as long as they are physically and mentally able to perform the duties of their job or meet their academic responsibilities without undue risk to their own health or the health of other employees or students.

Sick Leave Policies (Faculty & Staff Sick/Temporary Disability Leave) Employees shall be granted sick leave as approved based on their position title, duration category, time worked category, the personnel system under which they are governed, KCTCS policies and procedures, and laws. Employees shall confirm eligibility for sick leave with their supervisor and follow all policies and procedures for requesting and/or reporting sick leave. Available sick leave may be taken in increments of no less than 0.25 hours when approved.

Sick Leave Policies (Faculty & Staff Sick/Temporary Disability Leave) Employees shall request from their supervisor the approval of sick leave, using the official KCTCS absence record/request form and medical documentation as required. In addition, a letter of request may be submitted along with the absence record/request form. All paid or unpaid sick leave requires the approval of employees’ supervisor in order to be considered excused leave time. Employees shall use the official KCTCS absence record/request form to accurately reflect the amount of sick leave taken during any given pay period, along with the time sheet (if applicable).

Business Continuity Plans There is a link to the Pandemic Influenza Plan on the ECTC Homepage ECTC Pandemic Planning Committee/ Response Team is in place Every department should have a Business Continuity Plan. How will we function with short staff or emergency closure? Business Continuity Plan employees must be able to work from home effectively.

Business Continuity Plans ECTC’s Administration will ensure that alternative procedures are in place to assure continuity of instruction. Instructional priorities will be given to web-based classes and special assignments as determined by the instructor. Faculty will include a statement in their syllabus concerning optional assignments in case of the Pandemic Flu (H1N1). ECTC’s Administration will ensure that core functions, people and skills have been identified and that strategies are in place to manage these prior to the pandemic. The President’s Leadership Team are essential employees and will coordinate core functions and services.

Business Continuity Plans The leadership team and other key service areas will be provided laptop computers to assist with continuous functions. ECTC’s Administration will maintain a process for maintaining the operations of the business office (including budget, payroll), student services, maintenance and operations, and other pertinent departments within ECTC. Laptop computers will be provided to business office personnel and Human Resources to maintain operations.

Emergency Closures Decision to close System Office or any college will be made by President McCall in conjunction with state and local public health officials and the local college president as appropriate. All KCTCS policies and procedures related to emergency closings will apply. KCTCS will ensure that all business operations are continued during emergency closings using business continuity provision of Pandemic Flu Plans.

(8:00am-10:00pm EDT) H1N1 Public HOTLINE Number

Conclusion Thank you for your participation ECTC is concerned about the health and safety of its employees and their families. Questions?