H1N1 and KCTCS
Addressing Concerns
About Prevention
And
Absenteeism
Facts about H1N1
• KY Public Health has declared H1N1 “Widespread” in
Kentucky.
• Will affect up to 40% of population.
• Most affected age groups – 5 to 24 year olds, pregnant
women, and people with pre-existing health conditions.
• Spread by coughing or sneezing.
• May be contagious 1 – 2 days prior to showing symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
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Fever – 100 degrees or more
Cough and/or sore throat
Headache
Chills
Body aches
Runny nose
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Prevention
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or
sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and
water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs are spread
this way.
Prevention
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
• If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you
stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone
except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your
fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing
medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to
keep from making others sick.
Prevention
• Follow public health advice regarding school closures,
avoiding crowds, and other social distancing measures.
• Be prepared in case you get sick and need to stay home for a
week or so. Having a supply of over-the-counter medicines,
alcohol-based hand rubs (for when soap and water are not
available), tissues, and other related items could help you to
avoid the need to make trips out in public while you are sick
and contagious.
Prevention
• KCTCS employees who are well but who have an ill family
member at home with H1N1 flu should monitor their health
every day and take everyday precautions, including washing
their hands often with soap and water, especially after they
cough or sneeze. If soap and water are not available, they
should use an alcohol-based hand rub. If they become ill,
they should notify their supervisor and stay home.
Awareness
• Posters and signage placed in all restrooms, break rooms,
and other common areas to stress the importance of
personal hygiene in combating the spread of flu and other
communicable diseases.
• Periodic emails and other communications about the H1N1
situation and recommended actions.
• Make employees aware of the Pandemic Flu Plan posted on
the ECTC website.
Facility Hygiene
• Maintenance and custodial staff are cleaning and
disinfecting more frequently each day (at least twice a day)
all doors, meeting rooms, and common areas.
• Maintain a large quantity of masks, disinfectant wipes, and
gloves to be made available to employees.
• All keys, visitor badges, and fleet vehicles disinfected after
each use.
• Work spaces of employees documented to have H1N1 to be
disinfected immediately.
Assisting Employees Who May Have the Flu
• KCTCS cares about the health and well-being of all
employees and their family members.
• If an employee calls in to say he or she has the flu,
supervisor should encourage the employee to stay at
home/seek treatment/follow physician’s orders.
• Employees who come to work sick place others at risk and
may be sent home if a fever is verified.
Assisting Employees Who May Have the Flu
• Supervisors should be aware of those in their immediate
areas who are exhibiting flu-like symptoms, and encourage
those individuals to stay at home and/or seek medical
treatment.
• Supervisors will be responsible for sending employees home
who are feverish and exhibiting flu-like symptoms.
What Should Supervisors Do?
• If an employee shows the symptoms of the flu, ask if he or
she is ill and recommend that the employee go home.
• If flu is suspected, employee will be told by supervisor he or
she must leave according to KCTCS policy.
Human Resources Policies Relating to
H1N1 Absences:
• 3.3.10 KCTCS Serious Disease
• Sick Leave Policies 2.14.2 (Faculty & Staff Sick/Temporary
Disability Leave)
• Sick Leave Sharing Program 2.14.2.5
• Sick Leave Pool Program 2.14.2.4
Human Resources Policies Relating to
H1N1 Absences:
Please refer to these policies for additional information:
• 2.14.2.2 KCTCS Family and Medical Leave Policy
• 2.14.2.3 Unpaid Medical Leaves of Absence
• 2.14.1 Faculty and Staff Vacation Leave
• Bereavement Policy 2.14.14
3.3.10 KCTCS Serious Disease
• Employees or students with infectious, long-term, lifethreatening, or other serious diseases may continue their
work as a part of the KCTCS as long as they are physically
and mentally able to perform the duties of their job or meet
their academic responsibilities without undue risk to their
own health or the health of other employees or students.
Sick Leave Policies 2.14.2 (Faculty & Staff
Sick/Temporary Disability Leave)
• Employees shall be granted sick leave as approved based on
their position title, duration category, time worked category,
the personnel system under which they are governed, KCTCS
policies and procedures, and laws. Employees shall confirm
eligibility for sick leave with their supervisor and follow all
policies and procedures for requesting and/or reporting sick
leave.
• Available sick leave may be taken in increments of no less
than 0.25 hours when approved.
Sick Leave Policies 2.14.2 (Faculty & Staff
Sick/Temporary Disability Leave)
• Employees shall request from their supervisor the approval of
sick leave, using the official KCTCS absence record/request
form and medical documentation as required. In addition, a
letter of request may be submitted along with the absence
record/request form.
• All paid or unpaid sick leave requires the approval of
employees’ supervisor in order to be considered excused leave
time. Employees shall use the official KCTCS absence
record/request form to accurately reflect the amount of sick
leave taken during any given pay period, along with the time
sheet (if applicable).
Business Continuity Plans
• There is a link to the Pandemic Influenza Plan on the ECTC
Homepage
• ECTC Pandemic Planning Committee/ Response Team is in
place
• Every department should have a Business Continuity Plan.
How will we function with short staff or emergency closure?
• Business Continuity Plan employees must be able to work
from home effectively.
Business Continuity Plans
• ECTC’s Administration will ensure that alternative
procedures are in place to assure continuity of instruction.
Instructional priorities will be given to web-based classes
and special assignments as determined by the instructor.
• Faculty will include a statement in their syllabus concerning
optional assignments in case of the Pandemic Flu (H1N1).
• ECTC’s Administration will ensure that core functions, people
and skills have been identified and that strategies are in
place to manage these prior to the pandemic. The
President’s Leadership Team are essential employees and
will coordinate core functions and services.
Business Continuity Plans
• The leadership team and other key service areas will be
provided laptop computers to assist with continuous
functions.
• ECTC’s Administration will maintain a process for
maintaining the operations of the business office (including
budget, payroll), student services, maintenance and
operations, and other pertinent departments within ECTC.
• Laptop computers will be provided to business office
personnel and Human Resources to maintain operations.
Emergency Closures
• Decision to close System Office or any college will be made
by President McCall in conjunction with state and local
public health officials and the local college president as
appropriate.
• All KCTCS policies and procedures related to emergency
closings will apply.
• KCTCS will ensure that all business operations are continued
during emergency closings using business continuity
provision of Pandemic Flu Plans.
H1N1 Public HOTLINE Number
877-843-7727
(8:00am-10:00pm EDT)
http://healthalerts.ky.gov
Conclusion
• Thank you for your participation
• ECTC is concerned about the health and safety of its
employees and their families.
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Questions?