TransLink – COVID-19- Mitigation Discussions – March 18, 2020

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Human coronaviruses are common and are typically associated with mild illnesses, similar to the common cold. COVID-19 is a disease caused by a new coronavirus. Symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly.

We have been monitoring the situation closely. Things are changing fast. Reports and governmental recommendations are changing daily. We are working diligently to keep track of any mandates from government, discussing changes with your employer, making recommendations and seeking clarity on issues that have any potential impact on the health and safety of our members.

Here is what we can report today:

We are talking to TransLink leadership daily to try and assess what the next move is for staff, and who are most at risk. Everyone is important and everyone has a unique circumstance, but we are trying to prioritize our efforts to be most effective and efficient. As well, we are working to support those with compromised immunity and health concerns, or those who have returned from a trip outside Canada. It is our understanding, as of right now, that there are no cases of COVID-19 within TransLink.

If you have returned from a trip outside Canada, you must contact HR prior to returning to work. As you have likely heard, regardless of if you are sick or not, you must self isolate for 14 days prior to returning to work. TransLink has issued guidelines in consultation with your Union on how the isolation period will be treated based on when you traveled:

A communication was sent out to all employees by TransLink in consultation with your Union on Friday, March 13, confirming that TransLink requires an employee to self-isolate, if you do not have the ability to work from home during your self-isolation TransLink will provide paid admin leave to employees. If you become ill during your self-isolation, you are required to access your sick leave and book off sick.

In consultation with your Union Translink is working on a special medical self-disclosure form for the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereby, employees with COVID-19 symptoms will not be required to submit a M-186 form, however employees will fill out of this new self-disclosure form and submit it to TransLink Occupational Health. Please stay tuned for further updates about this form.

If you have questions about this directive, please contact HR for direction.

If you are concerned that you have been exposed to COVID-19, or if you have come into contact with anyone returning from one of the following countries in the last 14 days (China, Iran, Italy, Spain, South Korea), you must self isolate for 14 days from the point of contact or exposure prior to returning to work. TransLink has issued guidelines on how the isolation period will be treated. Please see above.

If you are feeling unwell :  To protect those most vulnerable, please self monitor your health and apply a low threshold when feeling unwell. Call in sick and stay home until you are feeling better.

In consultation with the Union TransLink has advised of the following:

-Employees with COVID-19 and/or medically directed self-isolation due to exposure will not need to have a medical note and/or fill out the M-186 form; given the current situation, this was direction provided to all employees at TransLink.

-Absences relating to COVID-19 would not be considered as part of an employee’s attendance issues, your Union is in discussion with TransLink to suspend the Attendance Management program completely during this unprecedented time.

Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.

Symptoms of COVID-19 are like other respiratory illnesses. Commonly, these are fever/chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose. Shortness of breath and chest pain can be signs of severe illness.

If you are at a higher risk of infection due to diagnosed medical issues, you must self identify as such to HR. Medical documentation or disclosure of diagnosis will be required, and we will work together with the employer to implement accommodations that reduce your risk of exposure.

Working From Home: TransLink is working with your Union to consider working from home options for members of the bargaining unit:

-TransLink is equipping employees who can, with the proper equipment and authorization to work from home. Certain groups of employees are being deemed essential by the Employer, if you have questions about why your department/job has been deemed essential please bring your concerns to your Director. TransLink will provide the Union with a list of employees working from home soon.

TransLink is determining which meetings are essential and non-essential and encourage employees to use Skype or teleconference where practical.

We continue to discuss additional health and safety protocols for those considered by the employer as essential staff. More information will be shared via bulletin shortly.

EFAP : We encourage all members and their dependents to seek support from your EFAP provider, Homewood Health, should they be experiencing heightened anxiety or are in need of support. EFAP can be reached at 1-800-663-1142 or via the Homewood Health website.

In Solidarity,

Parm Sandhar, Union Representative