• While a certain amount of concern is valid and healthy, there is no need to worry excessively or to panic. Please continue to conduct business as usual.
• Employees are encouraged to find out if they should get vaccinated against seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu. CSP will have flu shot clinics in the Fall 2009.
• Employees at higher risk of complications from flu should check with their health care provider about their options. People at higher risk of flu complications who get sick will benefit from early treatment with antiviral medicines.
• CSP urges basic good sense hygiene measures to prevent the spread of germs – measures we should all be using all the time, not just at the threat of pandemic flu, including:
  - Regular hand washing is a crucial first line of defense again the spread of illnesses such as colds and flu. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for about 20 seconds (about the length of time it takes you to sing Happy Birthday).
  - In the absence of soap and water, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Consider purchasing a bottle of hand sanitizer to keep on your desk or in your classroom for you and others to use.
  - Cover coughs and sneezes with your forearm (not your hand) or with a tissue. Don’t leave used tissues sitting on your desk or table, discard them immediately into the trash.
  - Germs are easily spread by touching your hands to your mouth, nose or eyes, so keep your hands away from your face.
  - It's easy to idly nibble a pen cap or pencil as you pore over your work, but they harbor lots of germs so keep them out of your mouth too.
  - Protect the health of co-workers and students; stay home if you are ill.
  - Set an example for others by practicing all of these good sense health guidelines.
  - If you are interested in posters or other information to post in your area, please contact Cher Rafftery at 8235.

If you are not experiencing the common flu symptoms, including, fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating0, you may report to work and are encouraged to continue to practice good hygiene as mentioned above.

• Symptoms of flu include fever or chills and cough or sore throat. In addition, symptoms of flu can include runny nose, body aches, headache, tiredness, diarrhea, or vomiting.
• Employees should stay at home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius) or signs of a fever (have chills, feel very warm, have a flushed appearance, or are sweating). This should be determined without the use of fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen).
• All employees must notify their supervisor if they will be absent from work due to the flu.
  - This notification should take place during the first hour of the workday, if feasible.
  - If possible, such notification should be made by a telephone conversation directly with your supervisor.
  - If direct contact is not possible, leaving a detailed voice mail message or calling a member of Human Resources is the preferred alternative.
  - If it is not possible to reach your supervisor or Human Resources, leaving a message with another employee is acceptable as a last resort.
  - In all messages, you should leave a phone number where you can be reached.
• Supervisors must notify HR (email marnold@csp.edu or call 8268) if any employee reports having the flu.
• If you report to work, and it appears that you have the common flu symptoms, including, fever, runny nose, coughing, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, and feeling tired and weak, you will be sent home.

In the event of an emergency the President, or his designees, have the authorization to close part or all of the University.

• Designated Employees: If CSP is officially closed, essential functions may still be maintained. As such, designated employees must report to work unless otherwise instructed. Decisions regarding an employee's ability to work from home will be assessed on individual basis. The Director of Human Resources will approve all such designations. First Responders may be established to include Vice Presidents and/or department heads, representatives from each college and the Offices of Student Life and Academic Development and one to two employees from the following departments: IT, Human Resources, Accounts Receivables, Accounts Payable, Operations, and Finance.
• A roster of designated employees is maintained by Human Resources. An up-to-date copy of each department's roster is kept on file in the Vice President for Administration’s Office, the Human Resources Department and the Security Office.
• For Benefit eligible employees, who are unable to report to work due to a personal or family pandemic influenza illness, or in the event of an emergency closing period, the following pay, vacation, sick leave, and or unpaid leave practices will apply:
  - Benefit eligible staff employees will be given 5 days (40 hours) of special sick leave called "FLU". This will be available from September 12, 2009 to May 28, 2010. Use of this leave is limited to the employee’s personal or family pandemic influenza illness.
  - If "FLU" leave is exhausted, then the leave will be designated as paid leave time. If paid leave is exhausted, then the leave will be designated as unpaid. All paid leave must be used prior to taking unpaid leave.
• Non Benefit eligible or temporary part time employees, who are unable to report to work due to personal or family pandemic influenza illness, or in the event of an emergency closing period, the following pay practices apply:
  - Part Time Non-Exempt employees will be granted the leave without pay for a duration of time to be determined.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA):
  The Family and Medical Leave Act gives you the right to take up to 12 weeks of leave without pay for a serious health condition or to care for your spouse, son, daughter, or parent with a serious health condition. You must substitute any or all of the unpaid leave with available FLU or paid leave time. For more information on the leave options available to you, contact Human Resources at ext 8268.
• Disability:
  For Benefit Eligible employees with influenza, you may qualify for short term disability during part of your absence. For more information on disability benefits please contact Human Resources ext 8268

In order to allow ample time to process payroll, effective September 11, 2009 staff timesheets must be submitted by midnight on Friday of the non-payroll week. Supervisors will need to have timesheets approved by the following Monday by 10:00 a.m.

• When an employee returns to work after a personal or family pandemic influenza illness, he or she must:
  - report to the Human Resources office
  - certify in writing that they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.

• If an employee is in need of medical attention, please notify your immediate supervisor and request assistance. If you believe the situation merits assistance, please contact the Security at ext 8777. If warranted immediately call 911. Please inform 911 of the individual's symptoms, location and any other information 911 requests.

For more information about seasonal flu, pandemic flu, avian flu and H1N1 flu, please visit the websites listed below.

• Minnesota Department of Public Health website on influenza
• Center for Disease Control (CDC) websites on swine flu:
  www.cdc.gov/swineflu/
  www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm
  www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidance_homecare.htm
• Managing Your Anxiety about the H1N1 Flu
• Human Resources: 612-641-8268 or marnold@csp.edu

This policy will stay in effect until such time the Administration or specific federal and/or state rules and regulations indicate a change in the policy or procedures.