Nonessential Employees Begin Preparing to Work from Home as of March 23 (3-17-20)

Dear APU Community,

As we refine our business continuity plans in accordance with directives and guidance from local, state, and federal public health agencies, we ask all employees in nonessential roles to work from home, beginning March 23 and continuing through April 3, subject to additional developments, which we are monitoring closely.

Leading up to this date, please work with your supervisor and colleagues to ensure a smooth transition that results in the least disruption for those we serve. If you are 65 and older, or have chronic health conditions or other considerations, we encourage you to begin telecommuting immediately.

Your supervisor will clarify if you are in an essential role. In general, these include positions critical to university operations such as those necessary to facilitate distance learning; Campus Safety and emergency management personnel; Residence Life and other employees assisting residential students with move out; certain Facilities personnel and Payroll staff; and administrators charged with ensuring safety and compliance. Student Health Center staff are necessary and on call. These community members will continue working on campus as scheduled with special attention to protocols that safeguard their health and that of others.

We understand not all duties can be performed remotely and that many of you will have no work to perform or a reduced schedule while you are at home. In a significant expression of the university’s support of our workforce and commitment to minimizing disruption to compensation, we will provide those employees who have duties that cannot be performed at home with paid administrative leave applicable for the work weeks of March 22 and March 29 only. During those weeks, you will be paid at the regular weekly rate based on your normal schedule. If the paid administrative leave period ends prior to your return to the office, please be prepared to use your sick time or other accrued paid time off for continued compensation. Other government assistance may become available as well. Please check Total Access in the coming days for additional details and instructions about compensation. All your current benefits will continue in accordance with APU’s benefits policies.

Student employees will be paid in accordance with applicable APU policies if they continue to perform work on campus or remotely. The vice president for each division or dean will work with area supervisors to determine feasibility for student work off site.

Following guidelines from governmental health agencies, all employees should practice social distancing, including maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others and moving to conference calls or video conferencing rather than in-person meetings. Managers are asked to establish work schedules that support these ongoing recommendations. Additionally, areas with essential employees will receive increased cleaning and sanitizing.

Even in the midst of this difficult time, APU remains committed to delivering on our mission and assisting students in accomplishing their educational goals. We will continue to provide updates through the university’s COVID-19 website, Total Access, and email communications and look forward to resuming normal operations as soon as possible and in compliance with local, state, or federal directives.

What a blessing to be part of an organization filled with such committed employees! May these unprecedented times provide opportunities to display the care and kindness that distinguish our community and point our students, coworkers, and neighbors to Christ.

Blessings,

Paola Martinez, Vice President for Human Resources