COVID-19 & Self-Isolation Direction by a P.H.O.

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Good Evening Members,

You would have received an email from the Union on February 21st detailing expectations should you be directed to self-isolate by a Provincial Health Officer so that your sick bank entitlements are not negatively impacted.  In addition to that information we have also received further information from our Employer in terms of process that we wanted to share with members.

Members are asked to proceed as follows:

  • The employee should connect with their supervisor and/or Human Resources immediately upon direction from Fraser Health to self-isolate;
  • If the person continues to be asymptomatic, we will review their current assignment and discuss with their supervisor the potential for remote work;
  • If remote work is not possible in that assignment, we will review any possibilities for redeployment during this time, discuss with CUPE, and offer the remote work to the employee;
  • If remote work is not possible, whether in that person’s assignment or through redeployment, the employee will be eligible for a paid general leave during the self-isolation period (on a without prejudice basis);
  • The employee should complete a leave form request online via the PowerSchool web portal, under “PHO Directed Self Isolation”;
  • If the employee refuses the temporary remote work assignment, they will not be eligible for the paid general leave and will be required to either access paid vacation/CTT time or apply for a COVID LWOP;
  • If the employee develops symptoms at any time during the self-isolation period, they must notify Human Resources and will then be placed on sick leave.

Please note: An employee calling 811, or hearing of an exposure and choosing to self-isolate is not sufficient for the above process. In addition, the leave applies only where the employee has been directly contacted by a health authority to self-isolate (usually in writing). If an employee elects to self-isolate due to a family or household member’s direction to self-isolate (but the employee has not been contacted directly by the health authority), the employee will be eligible to use any paid vacation/CTT time or apply for a COVID LWOP.

The Union was advised that this information was also published in CONNECT 33 but in case it was missed we wanted to make it easily accessible for everyone.

In Solidarity