Updated Guidance for Employees Age 65+ or With Underlying Medical Conditions

July 14, 2020

 

Colleagues, 

On March 15, we shared guidance provided by the California State University Chancellor’s Office that our employees who are 65 years and older or medically compromised (i.e., high risk for serious illness due to health conditions) not to report to work on campus. As such, many were authorized to telecommute starting March 16 and, if that was not feasible, they were placed on temporary paid administrative leave. 

Since March, the CDC and other public health organizations have learned more about the COVID-19 virus. There is data which shows that as a person gets older, their risk for severe illness from COVID-19 increases. There are also other factors that can increase the risk for severe illness associated with COVID-19, such as underlying medical conditions. Current CDC guidance is available here: updated guidance from CDC.

On July 6, the Chancellor’s Office modified this directive based on updated guidance from CDC. Going forward, these individuals may be included in campus repopulation plans if their role is needed on campus to meet operational needs or to support in-person instruction for fall 2020.

 

Employees who have medical concerns regarding their return to work should contact Human Resources regarding eligible leaves and/or other accommodations that may be available to them. Faculty who have employment-related questions should contact Diane Volpp with Faculty Affairs. 

 

If you have any questions, please contact your supervisor or Human Resources. Thank you.

 

Sincerely, 

Marylou Mendoza-Miller, SPHR

Associate Vice President for Human Resources