Accommodations for "High Risk" Employees

Dear colleagues,

As we continue to prepare for the fall semester and our return to face-to-face learning at Bradley, we know that a return to work process is not a “one size fits all” for our employees. We recognize the importance of protecting those at high risk of falling ill to COVID-19 or living with someone at high risk.

If you are high risk or live with someone who is a high risk, you may request additional flexibility with your work arrangements by contacting buhr@fsmail.bradley.edu. You will receive an application and instructions outlining the necessary documentation you will need. Applications should be returned by Aug. 7 to allow time to work through them before the start of the semester. HR will notify you after this date whether your request has been approved or not.

As noted previously, we are revising our initial plan of bringing employees back to campus by Aug. 17 (the faculty report date has NOT changed). The CDC and Restore Illinois Plan recommend maximizing physical distance by encouraging remote work, whenever possible. Therefore we have modified our return to work plans as follows:

Faculty

The faculty are an integral part of our plan to resume on-campus instruction; however, faculty members may submit a request to their respective dean if they would like to teach one (1) of their courses online. The dean and department chair will evaluate each request and work with the faculty member accordingly. We recommend making these requests as soon as possible to give the deans appropriate time to assess the request and work with the faculty member and allow for any necessary arrangements.

Staff

We recommend all units/supervisors evaluate whether an employee can continue performing their job remotely; if so, that arrangement should continue. If a modified or alternate work schedule is better for the individual and the department, the supervisor and the employee should determine that agreement — with the ultimate decision resting with the supervisor. While these requests for flexible work arrangements are best addressed between supervisors and employees, the Human Resources Department is available to offer guidance.

Please continue to monitor your email for updates and revisions to our plans as we near the start of the fall semester.

–Sent to Faculty and Staff on 07/23/2020