Employee

The College of Charleston has a voluntary face mask policy. This means that face masks will no longer be required in instructional spaces such as classrooms, labs and libraries.

Individuals who test positive should wear a high-quality mask such as a KN95 for at least 10 days when around others at home and in public.

• Residence Hall front desks 

• Student Health Services, 181 Calhoun Street 

• Stern Student Center, 71 George Street

• Human Resources, Suite 36, Lightsey Center basement, 160 Calhoun Street

• Public Safety, 89 St. Philip Street

• Campus Services HQ, 162 Calhoun Street, first floor of Berry Hall 

No. 

The College of Charleston has a voluntary face mask policy. This means that face masks will no longer be required in instructional spaces such as classrooms, labs and libraries.

Individuals who test positive should wear a high-quality mask such as a KN95 for at least 10 days when around others at home and in public.

Campus custodians will provide general nightly cleaning to common office areas. Cleaning/disinfection supplies will be available so that employees may clean/disinfect their personal spaces and high-touch common areas throughout the day. Employees should refrain from touching workspaces or personal belongings that are not their own.

Department Responsibility

Departments are responsible for regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces throughout the workday (door handles, light switches, phones, keyboards, desktops, file cabinets, water coolers, coffee pots, etc.). Departments are responsible for regularly wiping down shared equipment, including copiers, fax machines and common workspaces before and after use with a CDC or SCDHEC approved disinfectant. Office electronics should be cleaned with a disinfectant wipe per the manufacturer’s recommended instructions – or departments may contact their local IT support personnel for assistance.

For high-density workspaces, accommodations may be made to limit the number of employees and maximize workspace safety. Changes may include alternating work schedules, alternate workplace locations, workspace reconfiguration and directional signage.

As much as possible, meetings should be held using conference calls, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and other available electronic resources.

Facilities Management has reviewed the operation of the HVAC systems, increased HVAC filter efficiency (MERV rating) where possible, has hydration only signs at water fountains, is providing enhanced cleaning in classrooms and public areas, providing day porters to wipe down frequently touched surfaces, switched to EPA approved cleaning products, installed additional hand sanitizer stations at building entrances, installed Plexiglas barriers at key public facing reception areas and posted various signage regarding safety (face coverings, socials distancing, etc.)

Facilities Management Custodial Services will conduct weekly office cleaning services that include: floor care and trash removal. Daily general building cleaning services in public areas include regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, including building entrance doorknobs, handrails, light switches, elevator buttons, etc.; restroom maintenance; central area trash removal and routine cleaning, as was performed prior to the pandemic.

Departments are responsible for regularly cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces (door handles, light switches, phones, keyboards, desktops, file cabinets, water coolers, coffee pots, etc.); wiping down frequently touched items before and after use; regularly wiping down shared equipment, including copiers, fax machines, and common workspaces before and after use; and running individual faucets (labs, break areas, private restrooms, etc.) for about 10 minutes on the first day back to campus.

Additional information:

Sanitation supplies such as disinfectants and hand sanitizer are available to departments through Central Stores. Please do not throw away any disinfectant or hand sanitizer bottles or canisters that hold hand wipes. To promote sustainable practices, we are asking everyone to keep whatever containers they currently have so they may be refilled if necessary. Central Stores and Facilities Management can assist with refill options. Be certain to frequently wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

If you need additional service, Facilities Management is available via email at facilitiessupport@cofc.edu or by telephone at 843.953.5550 to address any questions or concerns regarding your request.

If an employee is required to isolate based on the College’s or S.C. DHEC’s guidance, the College has discretion to allow the employee to telework during the period of quarantine if the employee can perform his or her job functions remotely. Managers have the sole discretion to determine whether to permit telework while an employee is quarantining or isolating. If an employee is permitted to telework while quarantining, the College must return the employee back to the workplace immediately upon completion of the quarantine period.

If the employee’s job is not suitable for temporary remote work, employees may use available sick leave, annual leave, compensatory time or holiday compensatory time (if available) subject to approval by the supervisor/department head. If the employee does not have available leave, employees may be allowed to take leave without pay. Please visit the leave website for more details. If the employee does not have sufficient leave to cover the need, contact Human Resources for other possible options.

Possibly. HR Regulation 19-710.03 permits the College to advance up to 15 workdays of additional sick leave to eligible employees in extenuating circumstances, which includes contracting or being quarantined as a result of potential COVID-19 exposure. Medical documentation will be required and the advanced sick leave must be paid back to the College. Human Resources can provide additional details on this option.

Possibly. If an employee or a qualifying family member contracts COVID-19, it may constitute a “serious health condition” under the FMLA and a resulting leave of absence may be FMLA qualifying if the employee meets the other requirements to be covered by the FMLA. Medical documentation will be required as a part of the FMLA approval process.

Additional information can be found on the Human Resources FMLA web page.

Possibly. The employee and situation would have to meet eligibility criteria as outlined in the College’s Leave Transfer Pool Program. Human Resources can provide additional information on this option.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 (regardless of vaccine status) must isolate away from campus for a minimum of 5 days from the date of the positive test. The date of the test is day zero. 

Employees are free to resume work on campus on day 6* if: 

1. They have no COVID-19 symptoms or have significantly improved, and 

1. They are fever-free for 24 consecutive hours prior to leaving isolation without the use of any fever-reducing medication. 

1. They wear a well-fitting mask whenever around people on days 6-10 of isolation. 

*Isolation will be extended for a further 5 days if criteria 1 and 2 are not met.  

Employees are not required to take leave to be vaccinated or tested at on-site clinics. Employees are encouraged to be vaccinated or tested during lunch breaks, outside of work hours or on-site, if available. Divisions are encouraged to be flexible to allow employees the opportunity to obtain the vaccine or get tested as necessary.

If an employee is unable to receive the vaccine or get tested during non-work hours or to make up the work time missed, the employee will be required to use sick leave, annual leave or compensatory time for their time away from work.

Pursuant to orders from the State, the College is returning to normal operations to the greatest extent possible for the summer and fall 2022 semesters. Employees are expected to return to their pre-COVID-19 work arrangements, with continuing mitigation measures remaining in effect on campus. The College is no longer permitted to offer the special temporary accommodations due to COVID-19 that were made available in the spring 2021 semester. Employees should speak to their supervisor or department head about any issues or concerns regarding compliance with the State return-to-work requirement, and Human Resources may be consulted in exploring options. Supervisors can work with employees where possible on flexible scheduling options, or discuss the possibility of using sick leave or annual leave for times when the employee cannot be working on campus.

If an employee needs to request a reasonable accommodation under the ADA related to a disability, they may do so by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs. They will work with you on a case-by-case basis to identify an accommodation, as needed.

If an employee needs to request leave from work for their own serious health condition or to care for an immediate family member who has a serious health condition, they may contact the Office of Human Resources for assistance with the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

What if I am pregnant and need an accommodation?

The College has an accommodation process for employees based on medical needs caused by pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, and they will work with you on a case-by-case basis to identify an accommodation, as needed.

The College has an ADA accommodation process for employees with disabilities. Please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, and they will work with you on a case-by-case basis to identify an accommodation, as needed.

Visit the South Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral website or call a CCR&R referral specialists at 888.335.1002 to obtain personalized childcare information and regionally based provider lists.

Additional childcare resources are available through the Deer Oaks Employee Assistance Program website. You can also access Deer Oaks by going to their website deeroakseap.com and entering login: cofc and password: cofc. On the EAP website, select the "Parenting" tab, then "Child Care" from the drop-down menu or call Deer Oaks EAP at 866.327.2400. 

CDC guidance, last updated on August 11, 2022, indicates that regardless of vaccination status, people exposed at close contact to COVID-19, do not need to formally quarantine away from campus unless symptomatic for COVID. 

The CDC recommends that team members wear a mask for 10 days following close contact to a positive case.  

If asymptomatic, testing is recommended on day 5 or after, following exposure. 

If an employee develops COVID symptoms, immediately self-quarantine, contact the local public health authority/healthcare provider and seek testing to confirm infection. A negative test does not shorten the 10-day mask wearing period following close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID.  

Employees should take additional precautions following close contact to keep themselves and others safe (test if symptomatic, frequently wash hands, avoid contact with people who are at high risk of getting very sick, etc.). 

We realize this is a stressful and difficult time for employees and their families. For their health and well-being, employees are encouraged to take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program website (EAP). They offer a number of great resources to help employees and families cope with stresses related to the pandemic. These services are free to our employees.

Deer Oaks EAP provides assistance to our employees for short-term counseling, referrals & community resources such as child/elder daily care, mindfulness-based stress reduction programs, and many other work-life services (health and well-being, locating pet sitters, tutors, moving services, etc.). You can also take advantage of a multitude of webinars through the website. Alternatively, you can still participate in the Stress Management Webinars recently held for our employees. The links are provided below.

Recent Training Webinars from our Summer Series on Stress Management:

• How to Deal with Anxiety in the Midst of Stressful Circumstances
• Managing the Stress of Change
• Preventing & Overcoming Burnout

Deer Oaks EAP

Website: DeerOaks EAP (login: cofc, password: cofc)

Toll-Free Number: 866.327.2400

Email: eap@deeroaks.com

Additionally, all employees have access to free online self-help modules through TAO – Therapy Assistance Online. Self-help programs are offered in the following areas:

• Stress and Coping with Stressful Situations
• Resilience, Grit, Personal Strength
• COVID-19
• Relationships and Communication
• Health Related Concerns
• Anxiety, Worry, Specific Fears
• Depression
• Substance Abuse

Website: TAO Connect v3 (you will need to “register” with your CofC email, receive an email verification, and then login to peruse the library of self-help training modules available)