Business and Work

Items for Action

1. If you are scheduled to work on campus, use the Health Attestation Form each day before you leave your home to report to work.
   
   
2. Know your leave options under federal law and get questions answered at FFCRA FAQ webpage.
   
   
3. If you have symptoms or are tested for COVID-19, you must report this to the Occupational Health Program.
   
   
4. Take care of you: Suggestions can be found in UT Human Resources' Guide to Day-to-Day Living Under Covid-19.
   
   
5. Continue to enter time worked in WorkDay. See the guidance below under "Logging work hours."
    
6. Be mindful of internet security. Cyberattacks are ramping up with more people teleworking. Review up-to-date resources at: https://security.utexas.edu/Protect-Your-Privacy. 
    
7. If you take your desktop computer or other equipment, be sure to submit a form to record it. Submit an Inventory Equipment Located Off Campus form digitally (you can use the email address help@cns.utexas.edu for technology). Note that items that are mobile in nature (such as laptops or cell phones) do not need to be registered using this form.
   

General Resources

• UT Human Resources maintains a page with up-to-date information about timekeeping, teleworking and more in the age of coronavirus.
• UT IT has assembled a page with Teleworking resources.
• CNS IT is accepting Help ticket requests.
• Credentials are available for employees who need to travel to and from campus for work during the city’s shelter-in-place order. Follow the DocuSign process here.
• UT Facilities Services has updated information about putting in work requests here: https://facilitiesservices.utexas.edu/coronavirus
• Updated promotion and tenure guidelines for 2020-2021 for faculty.

Logging work hours during the COVID-19 situation

• UT Human Resources sent information about the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Under FFCRA, university employees affected by COVID-10 have two new paid leave options: Emergency Paid Sick Leave (EPSL), and Expanded Family and Medical Leave (EFML). These options are effective from April 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. 
• Your supervisor and/or your HR contact are great resources for more detailed information about timekeeping during this time. The latest timekeeping guidelines can be found here.
• Employees working either on-campus or remotely supporting the university’s core functions should enter regular work hours. (No emergency leave or alternate work arrangements are needed.)  
• If work duties require an employee to come to campus who is unable to do so (e.g., because of household quarantine), unit leadership and supervisors must make determinations as to whether accommodations are available and/or whether using available paid leave accruals will be necessary.
  
• Employees whose regular duties are not needed on campus but who are still unable to work remotely:
  1. If the reason for being unable to complete work is due to work-related constraints (such as technology; setup for functions at home, etc.), 
     1. Employees should discuss with their supervisor/supervisors/unit leaders whether other work options may be appropriate. 
     2. Supervisors can find examples of needs in Natural Sciences in two documents that offer modified duties for staff positions and modified duties for student worker positions.
     3. As of June 1, 2020, UT no longer has an emergency leave option for employees whose inability to work was not related to medical or family issues. 
  2. If employees cannot perform regular duties on-campus or work remotely due to illness or lapses in child care or elder care, 
     1. For work time missed due to illness, please enter sick time.
     2. Supervisors are asked to work with employees to explore flexible work options for those with lapsed dependent care, there are new federal leave options available for those affected by COVID-19.
        

Employee Wellbeing and Tips

• The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) created a resource for Managing the Stress of Social Distancing and Working Remotely.
• The College of Natural Sciences has created a new series of events, offerings and tips for teams and individuals. Find the latest at CNS Connect. 
  • There is also a Facebook Group for CNS employees where you can connect and share.
  • A new initiative, Lateral Communities, works to connect members of the College community with others who do similar work and from whom they can learn, network and grow.
• Employees experiencing temporary hardships may qualify and apply for the Staff Emergency Fund.
  
• UT Human Resources created the Guide to Day-to-Day Living Under Covid-19 with resources such as yoga, at-home exercise classes, mental health resources and more.
• Bandwidth tip: Some telecommunication organizations have increased bandwidth at no cost to users. If your phone can function as a "hotspot," it can provide the bandwidth for remote use in many cases until other hotspots arrive.
  

Travel

• Travel, including travel by car, is banned through the end of December and will not be reimbursed. See UT's page for more details: https://travel.utexas.edu/coronavirus
  • Limited exceptions can be requested for important domestic and international university-related business travel. International travel will be permitted only for COVID-19-related research, and individuals will be required to follow guidance for requesting restricted region travel approval and are encouraged to contact Global Risk and Safety for assistance.

Security 

• Building access requires use of UT ID at the celebrated entrance to each building. More about that is at the Financial and Administrative Services dedicated web page.
• Cyberattacks that exploit COVID-19 include malware and phishing using COVID-19-themed lures; attacks on organizations that do COVID-19 research; and fraud and disinformation. Learn how to protect your privacy or group from attack: https://security.utexas.edu/Protect-Your-Privacy.
• Zoom security is another concern. Learn more here.
• There has been a major increase in phishing attacks and online scams since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. In an effort to increase security, multi-factor authentication (Duo) is required to access most online services that require a UT EID login. Employees by June 15 will use DUO to access Canvas, Zoom, MyUT, and more.