Information for Employees
RIT is grateful to our employees for their remarkable and tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Preparing for Spring Semester
Employees working on campus in spring 2021 are required to obtain both a negative COVID-19 test (performed on or after January 7, 2021) and a 2020/2021 seasonal flu vaccine. The COVID-19 test and flu vaccination are not required of employees who will be on campus for a brief visit no more than once a month (e.g. to pick up mail) or if they visit campus and remain outdoors. Employees with approved accommodations may also be excused from these requirements.
A new remote work attestation must be entered in Oracle for spring for any adjunct working 100% remotely or any regular faculty or staff employee working 100% remotely outside of New York state.
COVID-19 Testing and Reporting
A COVID-19 test performed on or after January 7, 2021, is required for all faculty and staff who plan to be on campus in the spring, even if they work during the holiday break period and/or they do not travel outside the Finger Lakes region during the holiday. The test results should be uploaded to Oracle on or before January 25, 2021. In addition, employees are to upload COVID-19 test results (positive or negative) into Oracle every time they are tested.
Given the holiday and availability of testing, employees may report to work without a new negative COVID test or with results-pending through January 24, 2021. Employees should contact their manager with any questions specific to their personal situation.
Daily Health Screen
Faculty and staff can access the Daily Health Screen online at dailyhealth.rit.edu or by calling 585-438-5257. When an employee does not complete the Daily Health Screen, their supervisor is notified. Employees should notify their supervisor in advance if they will not be able to complete the Daily Health Screen.
Employees do not need to complete the Daily Health Screen and will be automatically marked as Excused on the Daily Health Audit under the following circumstances:
- On Short Term Disability (STD)
- On Personal or Professional/Career Development Leave
- On Military Leave
- Employees with an approved attestation they work 100% outside NYS
- Adjuncts with an approved attestation they work 100% remotely
- Student employees, student co-ops, and graduate research assistants who have completed the student remote attestation
Employees do not need to complete the Daily Health Screen and will be marked Excused by their supervisor on the Daily Health Audit for the following:
- When an employee is out ill for multiple days for the same illness, they need only complete the Daily Health Screen for the first day.
- When an employee has been instructed to quarantine by Rochester Regional Health Occupational Medicine, their Primary Care Physician or the Department of Health for their county
- When an employee is unable to complete the screen due to inaccessibility of cell phone service or internet (prior notification to supervisor should have been provided)
- When the supervisor is aware that an employee is too ill to complete the Daily Health Screen
- When employees who regularly work fewer than 9 months per year are outside of their appointment period. (e.g. research faculty working only in January and February would be marked excused in the months they aren’t working)
If you answer YES to the Daily Health Screen, employees are instructed to contact Rochester Regional Health’s Occupational Medicine COVID-19 Hotline at (585) 450-8199 to discuss their health screen information with a health care professional. RRH OccMed will determine a course of action, which may include:
- Clear to return to work
- Monitor symptoms
- Quarantine
- Obtain a COVID-19 test
- Contact their primary care physician
RRH OccMed will confirm the course of action and return-to-work status via email with the employee and the supervisor.
COVID-19 on Campus
If a student tells an RIT employee that they have tested positive for COVID-19, the employee should tell the student to contact the Student Health Center and remind them to complete the Daily Health Screen. The contact tracing teams at RIT and at the Monroe County Health Department carefully review individual’s actions and risks to others following notification of a positive COVID-19 test. They will reach out to those who are actual close contacts.
To date, there have not been any cases of COVID transmitted in the classroom or lab settings due to the adherence to our safety and cleaning protocols.
Returning to Campus
Before returning to campus for the Fall Semester, RIT is requiring all employees to:
- Get a COVID-19 test and provide proof of a negative result using the RIT Employee Self Serve portal prior to coming to campus.
- Take an online training session on protecting yourself from COVID-19. Human Resources is sending instructions for taking this course to all employees.
- Respond to a daily RIT Health Screen, seven days a week, even if you are not coming to campus.
Support for Employees
RIT has a membership with care.com which provides unlimited access to Care.com to find caregivers, tutors, errand runners, senior caregivers, pet walkers and sitters, housecleaners, and more. More information on the partnership is available on Human Resources' Dependent and Childcare Resources page. Faculty and staff can also find information from local school districts and community-based organizations.
RIT’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers work-life specialists who will provide customized resources for child and elder care, pet care, and home repair. The EAP also provides confidential counseling on topics related to job pressures, problems with children and stress, anxiety, and depression.