Axion Biosystems will take proactive steps to protect the workplace in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, national or local epidemic, or pandemic. It is the goal of Axion Biosystems during any such time period to strive to operate effectively and ensure that all essential services are continuously provided and that employees are safe within the workplace.
Preventing the Spread of Infection in the Workplace
Axion Biosystems will make efforts to ensure a clean workplace and will monitor and coordinate events around an infectious disease outbreak, as well as to create work rules to promote safety through infection control.
Employees are expected to cooperate in this effort by taking steps to reduce the transmission of infectious disease in the workplace. The best strategy remains the most obvious - frequent hand washing with warm, soapy water; covering your mouth whenever you sneeze or cough; wearing face masks and discarding used tissues in wastebaskets.
Unless otherwise notified, Axion Biosystems’ standard attendance and leave policies remain in effect. Individuals who believe they may face particular challenges reporting to work during an infectious disease outbreak should take steps to develop any necessary contingency plans. For example, employees might consider arranging alternative sources of childcare should schools close and/or speak with supervisors about the potential to work from home temporarily or on an alternative work schedule. Employees are encouraged to contact HR or OneDigital for information regarding the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for childcare and dependent care resources. All contact between an employee and the EAP is confidential and designed to safeguard the participant’s privacy rights.
Telecommuting When Ill
Requests to work remote will be handled on a case-by-case basis. While not all positions will be eligible, all requests for temporary remote work should be submitted to your supervisor for consideration.
Staying Home When Ill
Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. Axion Biosystems provides Paid Time Off to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness. Employees should refer to the company’s Paid Time Off policies for additional information, or you may contact HR.
During an infectious disease outbreak, it is critical that employees do not report to work while they are ill and/or experiencing the following symptoms: Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills, and fatigue. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people with an infectious illness such as the flu and or other contagious communicable illnesses and diseases remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever (100 degrees F or 37.8 degrees C) or signs of a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.
Employees who report to work ill may be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines.
Requests for Medical Information and/or Documentation
If you are out sick or show symptoms of being ill, it may become necessary to request information from you and/or your health care provider. In general, we may request medical information to confirm your need to be absent, to show whether and how an absence relates to the infection, and to know that it is appropriate for you to return to work. We expect and appreciate your cooperation if and when medical information is requested. Medical certification may also be requested in accordance with any applicable leave of absence policies that may apply.
Confidentiality of Medical Information
Axion Biosystems treats any medical information as a confidential medical record. All reasonable precautions will be taken to prevent inappropriate disclosure of medical information according to applicable laws.
Social Distancing Guidelines for Workplace Infectious Disease Outbreaks
In the event of an infectious disease outbreak, Axion Biosystems may implement these social distancing guidelines to minimize the spread of the disease among employees in the workplace.
In the workplace, employees are requested to:
- Wear masks at all times except within your personal office or cubicle
- Avoid meeting people face-to-face. Employees are encouraged to use the telephone, online conferencing, e-mail or instant messaging to conduct business as much as possible, even when participants are in the same building
- If a face-to-face meeting is unavoidable, minimize the meeting time, choose a large meeting room and sit at least six feet from each other if possible; avoid person-to-person contact such as shaking hands
- Avoid any unnecessary travel and cancel or postpone nonessential meetings, gatherings, workshops and training sessions
- Limit congregating in work rooms, pantries, copier rooms or other areas where people socialize
- Bring lunch and eat at your desk or away from others (avoid lunchrooms and crowded restaurants)
- Encourage members and others to request information and orders via phone and e-mail in order to minimize person-to-person contact. Have the orders, materials and information ready for fast pick-up or delivery
Outside activities
For the safety and well-being of our employees, employees may be encouraged to the extent possible to use good judgment outside of work.
For example:
- Avoid public transportation (walk, cycle, drive a car) or travel to destinations
either early or late to avoid rush-hour crowding on public transportation - Avoid recreational or other leisure classes, meetings, activities, etc., where employees might come into contact with contagious people
