As supervisors and leaders, please remember to continue to exercise care and support for your staff and to reach out to your supervisor for the support you need. Additionally, please allow for some flexibility during this time as it relates to attendance and other employment issues associated to COVID-19.
Return to the workplace
(Added April 7, 2021)
Short-term remote work arrangements were offered as part of the enterprise’s COVID-19 response. We are requiring all employees granted temporary work-from-home status during the pandemic to return to their pre-pandemic work locations by July 6. While employees are asked to return to work by July 6, this change does not signal the end of the conversation regarding remote work for some UI Health Care employees. We will continue to evaluate the benefits and effectiveness of such arrangements as we move forward. Further details will follow after employees return to the workplace.
While we understand that many employees have been able to work productively from home, we have decided that a return to our pre-pandemic state as the starting point for evaluating future work-from-home arrangements affords the most fair and equitable approach.
Remote working arrangements that were in place before the pandemic are not impacted at this time.
We will be refining the process for any future remote work requests and agreements. Further details will follow after employees return to the workplace in July.
No, at this time, we are requiring all employees granted temporary work-from-home status during the pandemic to return to their pre-pandemic work locations. We will refine the process for any future remote work requests and agreements. Further details will follow after employees return to the workplace.
Yes, we are now able to safely welcome back all of our temporary work-from-home team members. Please talk with you supervisor to decide on a mutually agreeable date.
No. COVID-19 vaccination is highly encouraged but not mandated for UI Health Care employees. Individuals may choose whether to get the vaccine and whether to share that information with others. Our safety measures will reflect measures for everyone to follow, regardless of vaccination status.
Employees are encouraged to review their parking and transportation needs now in anticipation of their return to the workplace. For example, if you cancelled your parking permit while you worked remotely, you’ll need to resubmit your request for a parking permit.
Information about parking, bus, and rideshare options, such as employee van pools, can be found here: transportation.uiowa.edu/employee
Please talk with your supervisor about your work location and configuration, which may be different than it was pre-pandemic as we work to optimize and configure available spaces.
We will provide an updated entrance map for the main campus and office locations closer to the July return date.
We will continue to adhere to the state’s requirements for employees entering a health care facility and will make appropriate modifications to remain compliant. Additional information will be shared as we approach the July 6 return to the workplace.
You can always find our current safety standards and guidelines on The Loop.
We are confident that our work environment is safe for employees, regardless of individual vaccination status. UI Health Care remains committed to vaccinating all its employees against COVID-19, and based on current vaccine dose projections, we anticipate being able to offer vaccinations to all employees who want it in advance of July’s return to the workplace.
If you can be vaccinated elsewhere, such as a local pharmacy, before UI Health Care contacts you for a vaccine appointment, we encourage you to do so in order to be vaccinated as early as possible.
You can always find our current safety standards and guidelines on The Loop.
Yes, we are confident that our work environment is safe for employees.
We will continue to work with our epidemiology team to evaluate workspaces as we welcome all our employees back to the workplace. If you have a concern about your workspace, you may submit a request for a workspace review here: https://medcom.uiowa.edu/theloop/social-distancing-work-space-request.
We are confident that our work environment is safe for employees. We regularly monitor the CDC guidance to support safety practices, and work with our epidemiology team’s recommendations for maintaining safety measures designed to keep everyone healthy in the workplace. We will follow CDC guidance regarding these practices and make appropriate modifications to align with changing guidelines, but we anticipate that many of these recommendations will become more relaxed in the coming months. Additional information will be shared as we approach the July 6 return to the workplace.
Yes, individuals may choose to wear a mask even if safety guidelines no longer require them in the future.
Expectations for meetings may vary over time, depending on current CDC guidelines to support safe business practices and our epidemiology team’s recommendations for maintaining safety measures designed to keep everyone healthy in the workplace at the time.
You can always find our current safety standards and guidelines on The Loop.
We are confident that our work environment is safe for employees, regardless of individual vaccination status. Therefore, the expectations for returning to the workplace are the same for all employees regardless of vaccination status.
University-purchased technology that was taken home to support work from home during the pandemic is expected to be returned to the enterprise. Staff should transport this equipment back to their assigned workspace prior to their return to an onsite work schedule. Staff who have technical configurations that include different peripherals should submit an ESC ticket for HCIS technician support to help with system setup and to allow HCIS to update their technology inventory regarding the location of the equipment.
Illness and exposure
View the HR & Employee Health page for more information.
View the HR & Employee Health page for more information.
View the HR & Employee Health page for more information.
Employees who are pregnant and/or immunocompromised may continue to work as usual with the appropriate use of personal protective equipment.
Pay and leave
Employees who badge and track their time in ELMS should use the WORKING OFFSITE code when working from home. Exempt and non-bargaining employees who do not badge and track their time in ELMS do not need to take any action to remain in pay status.
Remote working arrangements in place before the pandemic are not impacted at this time. We will be refining the remote work agreement process, and further details will follow after July.
View the HR & Employee Health page for more information.
View the HR & Employee Health page for more information.
Employees are expected to follow the proper call-off procedures established within their department and supervisors are encouraged to be flexible and understanding in these situations.