Yesterday, Athabasca University (AU) circulated an email outlining AU’s initial response to the COVID 19 pandemic. Prior to this email circulating, AU’s occupational health and safety committees were informed about AU’s response. At present, AU:
Is setting up a website to pass on information.
Has confirmed that contracted cleaning staff will more frequently clean high-touch spots (e.g., door handles).
Has ordered and received additional hand-sanitizer units but has not yet secured sanitizer to go in them.
During the OHS teleconference, OHS members raised a number of issues that Darren Schmidtke agreed to take back to the COVID 19 Planning Committee. Subsequently, AUFA President Jolene Armstrong sent an email to Deputy Provost Anne-Marie Scott outlining some specific steps AUFA recommends AU take immediately. These steps include:
Working from home: AUFA recommends AU immediately move as many staff as possible to working from home as well as shifting all meetings and exams to online formats. Social distancing appears effective at slowing the spread of the virus. These changes are consistent with the strategies employed in jurisdictions with more experience with the virus.
No sick notes: AUFA recommends AU relax its requirement for medical notes to access sick leave. This will help reduce the demand on the health-care system and further reduce the risk of exposure.
Travel ban: AUFA recommends AU direct staff to cease all work-related travel. AUFA member should not be expected to expose themselves to the virus for work-related purposes.
The OHS teleconference flagged a number of concerns. These concerns included:
that some AU staff (or family members) may be particularly vulnerable to contracting the virus or becoming seriously ill due to the virus due to personal characteristics or circumstances and these AU may require immediate accommodation to reduce their risk of exposure,
a much higher level of exposure for AU staff who work at co-located sites (Bow Valley College) or who interact with students (e.g., exam staff, staff who process physical mail),
the absence of hand sanitizer and, in some cases, even soap, in bathrooms at some AU sites, and
concern that additional cleaning efforts by contracted cleaning staff is not occurring.
While AUFA waits for AU’s response to Jolene’s email, individual AUFA members may wish to consider taking the following steps:
If you feel unwell, use your sick leave to stay home.
If you have the opportunity to work from home, do so.
If you are convening a meeting, consider whether the meeting could be delayed.
Attend all required AU meetings electronically.
Postpone all AU-related travel.
If you are (or a family member is) more vulnerable to acquiring or being severely affected by COVID 19 due to a medical or other condition, seek home-working accommodation from your supervisor to work from home. If you are refused, please contact the AUFA office at aufahq@aufa.ca or 780 675-6282.
Rhiannon Rutherford and Bob Barnetson
Athabasca-location OHS committee members