COVID-19 HR Updates for Employees

Return to Work Form

Any employee who is approved to come back to work on campus must fill out the COVID-19 Return to Work Form. On that form, an employee can check one of the applicable statements:

  • They can return to campus
  • They cannot return to campus because they believe they have a qualifying health condition, or another qualifying reason.

If an employee indicates that they believe they should not return to campus, Kirkwood Human Resources will reach out to them to determine if they have a qualifying reason to not return to campus, and if so, what next steps are appropriate. If it is determined that an employee cannot return to campus due to a qualifying reason, Kirkwood Human Resources will work with the employee and supervisor on an appropriate solution. This process continues as we move through Phase III and prepare for the start of the fall term.

If you believe that you cannot return to campus due to a qualifying reason and you have submitted the RTW form, then you do not need to resubmit this form. If you believe you cannot return to campus due to a qualifying reason and you have not yet submitted a request, please fill out the RTW form. For further information about the RTW process, please refer to the Return to Work Process Flowchart

Please send any questions to hr@kirkwood.edu.

As a way to support their clients and the community through the COVID-19 crisis, the Mercy Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offering one additional session per employee, from May 1, 2020 – April 30, 2021. This is in addition to the current six visits per calendar year. This extended benefit applies to the employee only; it does not apply to immediate family members. Employees can contact Mercy EAP to inquire about available visits.

Mercy EAP offers virtual visits through the Mercy MyChart app. Virtual visit instructions can be found here. For an appointment, contact Mercy EAP at 319-398-6694.

It has come to our attention that fraudulent unemployment claims have been submitted on behalf of people who have not actually filed for unemployment benefits themselves. This has affected a few of our employees as well.

If you receive information from Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) but did not file a claim with them, please inform Human Resources and contact IWD at uiclaimshelp@iwd.iowa.gov to let them know the claim is fraudulent.

If you happen to receive benefits that you did not apply for, report it to IWD immediately at the email listed above and ask for assistance. Do not respond to calls, emails, or text messages telling you to wire the money, send cash, or put the money on gift cards.

If you have any questions, contact the Kirkwood HR department at hr@kirkwood.edu.

Updated COVID-19 Travel Guidelines

The college has updated the COVID-19 Travel Guidelines for employees. If you plan on traveling during the pandemic, please review the document before leaving for your destination.

COVID-19 FY20 Vacation/Personal Day Balances

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many employees have had to cancel vacation and/or personal leave plans or were unable to take FY20 time off due to added responsibilities related to the impact of the crisis on the college. As a result, full-time board-approved staff members and faculty were/are allowed to rollover their unused vacation days and/or personal leave from fiscal/contract year 2020 and will have until the end of fiscal/contract year 2022 to use them.

  • There was no change in the procedure for banking vacation days. Up to five days of the employee’s vacation balance on June 30 was banked, not to exceed the 30-day banked vacation limit.
  • After available days were banked, remaining vacation was carried over into the Rollover Leave account.
  • Any personal leave hours for staff remaining on June 30, 2020, was also carried over into the Rollover Leave account.
  • Any personal leave hours for faculty remaining on Aug. 31, 2020, will be carried over into the Rollover Leave account.
  • FY20 staff vacation and/or personal days rolled into the Rollover Leave account must be used by the end of FY22 (June 30, 2022) or they will be forfeited. Faculty personal leave days must be used by the end of the FY22 contract year (Aug. 31, 2022) or they will be forfeited.

COVID-19 Hotline

Employees are reminded to use the COVID-19 hotline if they:

  • Have been told they contracted COVID-19
  • Have been exposed to a person with COVID-19
  • Think they may have been exposed to COVID-19
  • Recently returned from a high-risk country (Level 3)

Kirkwood’s COVID-19 exposure hotline number is 319-784-1650.

Families First Coronavirus Response Act Expiration

Absent additional legislation from the federal government, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) will expire Dec. 31, 2020. Among other things, this means that the additional leave provided under FFCRA will no longer be available in the situations that were covered by FFCRA. Moving forward into the 2021 spring semester, Kirkwood HR will continue to work with employees and their supervisors to reasonably accommodate necessary leave or telecommuting requests in compliance with our existing telecommuting and leave procedures. If the federal government passes new legislation related to FFCRA or other coronavirus relief efforts that impact Kirkwood, we will follow up with additional information.


Questions?

Human Resources
313 Kirkwood Hall
6301 Kirkwood Blvd. SW
Cedar Rapids, IA 52404

319-398-5572 phone
319-398-5502 fax

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