Key Messages

  • Provincially mandated state of emergency and stay at home order in effect
  • Any work that can be done from home, must be done from home
  • Outside of home trips limited to essential purposes only

To All Members of the Carleton Community,

In response to the sustained rise of COVID-19 cases, the Government of Ontario has enacted a state of emergency and stay at home order which is now in effect for the entire province. This decision was made in consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other health experts.

Stay at Home Order

The stay at home order requires everyone to remain at home with exceptions for permitted purposes or activities, such as going to the grocery store or pharmacy, accessing health care services, for exercise or for work where the work cannot be done remotely.

Accordingly, in line with provincial regulations during the state of emergency and stay at home order, everyone is asked to limit trips outside of their home. All employees (including faculty, course instructors and staff) are only permitted to come to campus to maintain essential operations and perform necessary work – including research. Any work that can be done from home, must be done from home.

Additionally, indoor gatherings are not permitted, and outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of  five people as long as you can keep two metres of physical distance from each other. Everyone should also wear a mask or face covering. All in-person Carleton conferences, events, on-campus video and photoshoots, etc. are suspended until further notice.

Accessing Campus

If accessing campus is necessary, for example to retrieve materials necessary to continue working remotely, temporary access is possible through the approved building access protocols. This includes temporarily accessing your office to collect books and materials that will assist in teaching. All employees must continue to complete the COVID-19 Screening Form each day before coming to campus.

If you have any questions regarding whether or not you can access campus for essential reasons, please discuss this with your manager, supervisor, chair or dean. Case-by-case support is available to managers, supervisors, chairs and deans through the Return to Campus committee. Please email covidinfo@carleton.ca.

Accommodations/Leave For Child Care Responsibilities

We are committed to continuing to support all of our employees with their caregiving responsibilities. Reasonable accommodations can be requested from your manager, supervisor or dean. This may include working alternate hours, other flexibility options, requesting a leave (e.g., special, annual) from work, or a combination of these options. Managers and supervisors should check with Human Resources (humanresources@carleton.ca) or, in the case of faculty, with the Office of the Deputy Provost, before implementing an alternative arrangement.

Reach Out For Support

We know this is a challenging time for all members of our community and we encourage any employee and their family members  who need support to reach out to the Employee & Family Assistance Program (EFAP) by calling 1-877-725-5676 or through the myfseap.ca portal. These services are free for all Carleton faculty, course instructors and staff and any interactions you have through the EFAP are confidential.

The health and safety of all members of our community remains a top priority. We all have a collective responsibility to ensure we are following public health guidelines and government regulations to ensure the safety of our community and to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Blanchard
COVID-19 Lead
On behalf of the COVID-19 Steering Committee

Friday, January 15, 2021 in
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