| Preparing for Influenza at Penn |
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September 15, 2009,
Volume 56, No. 03
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Information for Penn Faculty
If you develop influenza-like illness, you should stay home until you are fever free for more than 24 hours. If you wish to seek medical treatment or have medical questions, you should contact your healthcare provider. If you feel well enough to work, you should do so remotely using e-mail, telephone, and other communication technologies.
Consider what steps you can take now to limit the disruption if you develop influenza-like illness.
• Develop plans to manage your laboratory or office if you or your staff becomes ill.
• Plan for disruptions to your courses, including informing your students about:
* policies and expectations regarding class attendance;
* procedures for making up in-class assignments and exams
for students who are absent due to illness;
* procedures to notify students if you need to cancel class
unexpectedly.
• Talk to your family and household members about what would happen if you or they develop influenza-like illness and remain at home.
• Purchase flu prevention supplies such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, disinfectants, and disposable wipes for your laboratory or office through established procedures for obtaining office supplies. Frequently clean high touch surfaces such as desks, door knobs, keyboards, and counters.
Where can I get information about instructional technology available to me?
There are a number of instructional technologies that may be useful to manage disruptions to a course, two of which are available to all Penn instructors:
• Courses In Touch-Class List allows instructors to generate e-mail notices to all students enrolled in a class.
• Blackboard and Wharton’s WebCafé provide online tools for conducting class discussions, posting lecture or discussion notes, submitting student assignments, and other tasks.
There may be additional technologies and support available through your school. For specific links, visit the FAQ section of this site1.
What are students being told to do if they develop influenza-like illness?
Students who develop influenza-like illness will be told by Student Health Service to not attend class or exams and to contact their instructors to make arrangements to make up assignments or exams. Students who miss class for more than a week will be told to contact their school or program advising office.
Information for Penn Staff
If you develop influenza-like illness, you should stay home from work until you are fever free for more than 24 hours. If you wish to seek medical treatment or have medical questions, you should contact your healthcare provider. You should contact your supervisor to inform him or her that you will not be coming to work.
Consider what steps you can take now to limit the disruption if you develop influenza-like illness.
• Talk to your supervisor and colleagues about ways to minimize the disruption your absence would cause and explore with your supervisor the possibility of cross-training with co-workers so that vital functions can continue in your absence.
• Review Sick Leave, Paid Time Off, and Family and Medical Leave policies and your sick leave and other paid time off balances.
• Purchase flu prevention supplies such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers, tissues, disinfectants, and disposable wipes through established procedures for obtaining office supplies. Frequently clean high touch surfaces such as desks, door knobs, keyboards, and counters.
• Develop plans with your family and household members to address household matters if you or they develop influenza-like illness and have to remain at home.
In addition to the steps above, supervisors should:
• Develop plans to manage your workplace, including cross-training of staff, so that vital office functions can continue if you or your staff become ill.
• Review the sick leave and other paid time off balances for your staff.
• Review official flu information and CDC guidance about the workplace and discuss with your employees.
If you have questions about HR policies or workplace issues, contact Staff and Labor Relations in the Division of Human Resources (215) 898-6093) or your school/center Human Resources representative.
What should I do if an employee at work has influenza-like illness?
If a staff member at work has influenza-life symptoms, you should send the staff member home. Penn employees who become ill should contact their health care provider by telephone about medical concerns or questions.
Should I inform employees if I know they have been exposed to someone with influenza-like symptoms?
You should inform employees of their exposure if you know they have come in contact with someone who has influenza-like illness in the workplace, but you must respect the privacy of the sick individual and not share confidential information about any employee’s medical condition. Encourage your staff who have been exposed to monitor themselves for influenza-like symptoms and to speak with their health care provider about any medical concerns.
1 To learn more about the H1N1 influenza visit www.upenn.edu/flu.
Related: Seasonal Flu Shots for Penn Faculty and Staff
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