SAIT is continuing to monitor the impact of seasonal flu and H1N1 in our community in conjunction with Alberta Health Services (AHS). As further information becomes available processes and responses listed here may be adapted accordingly.
The following information is intended to help guide the actions of managers through this flu season. If you have additional questions, please submit them to
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. Responses to frequently asked questions will be listed here. Please check back for updates.
As managers of SAIT we ask that you:
Assist SAIT by promoting recommended infection control practices to your students and staff.
Endeavor to support and accommodate those who are absent due to illness or acting as a primary caregiver for an ill family member.
Continue to ensure the relevance of your unit’s business continuity plans by identifying critical functions, resources and determining alternate arrangements required to maintain operations.
Process for reporting employee absences Employees are to implement the following temporary measures in reporting absenteeism potentially related to seasonal flu or H1N1:
Notify their supervisor/manager on a daily basis for the first three (3) business days of their absence.
On the fourth (4) consecutive day of absence, the employee is to notify both his/her supervisor/manager and the ‘Return to Work Coordinator’ (403-284-8761/
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). The Return to Work Coordinator will advise the employee of the requirements for medical clearance prior to the employee’s return to work.
Employees are to follow Step #2 for all subsequent consecutive business days absent up to and including day six (6).
Employees continuing to experience flu like symptoms for seven consecutive days are to continue daily notification of both their supervisor /manager and the Return to Work Coordinator. As well, they should contact Alberta Health Link at 1-866-408-5465 and make an appointment to seek medical attention.
As a proactive measure during this flu season, each School and Department is required to report the number of employees absent on a daily basis to SAIT’s Health, Safety and Wellness Department. This process enables SAIT to monitor trends across campus and inform its response in the event of escalating absence that may affect operations. What if an employee calls into work and indicates they think they may have H1N1 or an influenza-like illness? If an employee is experiencing influenza-like symptoms, they should be advised to stay home and call Health Link Alberta at 1-866-408-5465 for more information and direction as to what to do.
Employees advised to stay at home due to influenza-like symptoms are to follow the SAIT process for reporting employee absence as described above.
What information can I or should I ask for if an employee calls in reporting influenza – like illness? The questions that can be asked are specifically:
Are you are ill with flu-like symptoms?
If they answer yes, please ask:
What was the first day your symptoms appeared?
When do you anticipate returning to work?
If employees call in ill, but are not exhibiting influenza-like symptoms, the only information you should request related to their medical condition is the expected time line for their return to work.
What are the expectations of employees relative to returning to work after absence due to flu or H1N1? Employees who believe they have sufficiently recovered from the flu to return to work must first secure medical clearance through either Campus Health Services or their own medical doctor.
Through this period, do employees require a medical note for greater than three consecutive days of absence that is unrelated to influenza? Yes. SAIT’s General Illness Leave procedure (HR.1.5.2) requires a medical certificate for any time lost due to general illness or injury in excess of three (3) days.
SAIT’s General Illness Leave procedure also requires employees to call in to their supervisor or manager at the start of each work day and inform him/her of the cause of their impending absence.
What if an employee is at work and is portraying signs of an influenza-like illness? Speak or communicate with the employee in a private and confidential setting regarding how they are feeling.
If the employee reports (or is clearly observed to be displaying) symptoms of influenza-like illness (sudden onset of fever and cough; lethargy, muscle aches and lack of appetite) they should be directed to Campus Health Services for assessment.
What do I do if a number of my staff are away due to an influenza –like illness? Discuss the matter with your supervisor and reference your school or department’s business continuity plan. It should identify back up coverage and determine essential services in order of priority
What if one of my employees requests to stay away from work for fear of exposure to H1N1? Advise the employee that absence due to perceived fear of exposure is not covered under SAIT’s illness leave. Other types of leave available – to be considered on a case-by-case basis with the consent of managers – include vacation and lieu days. Reinforce that SAIT is continually monitoring the influenza situation and decisions will be made to ensure that the workplace remains safe.
How should I advise one of my employees if they have indicated that they have been in contact with someone with influenza like illness? Unless an employee is displaying influenza-like symptoms or if they have been advised by their healthcare provider not to attend work, they are expected to be at work, and are advised by Alberta Health Services to:
Continue with regular activity;
Monitor themselves and their family for symptoms of influenza
Practice self care at home and at work/school
If necessary, pursue more information through Health Link Alberta at 403-943-LINK (5465) or visit www.healthlinkalberta.ca, 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Do I need to advise other employees of a possible H1N1 exposure in the workplace? No. Advise only the Return to Work Coordinator and Employee Services and/or direct managers/supervisors. The need for wider notification will be assessed by SAIT in conjunction with Alberta Health Services.
It is not appropriate for supervisors to notify staff of an individual’s health status. This can violate the privacy of the individual in addition to creating unnecessary concern for the infected staff member and/or colleagues.
Where a department is concerned about potential exposure to H1N1 influenza, this presents an opportunity to meet with staff collectively or individually to discuss self-care and self-isolation at a general level. This discussion can take place in the context of general concern for the staff of the department rather than singling out one individual as the cause for concern.
If a member of my staff has a family member that is ill with either confirmed or suspected H1N1 influenza, but the staff member is not symptomatic, should they self-isolate and stay home or is it okay for them to come to work? There are no issues with a staff member continuing to attend work if they are not displaying flu-like symptoms. It is only if and when a staff member begins to experience flu-like symptoms that she/he should follow the advice and guidelines of Alberta Health Services.
How do I respond to a request by an employee who is a primary caregiver and seeks absence to assist with care of a dependent with H1N1 or influenza-like symptoms? It is reasonable to grant leave to an employee in the situation where there are no other options for the care of a dependent with influenza-like symptoms. Leave options may include special leave, which allows for some time off (Article 35 – AUPE; Section 40 – SAFA; Employee Information (mySAIT) - Mgmt/APT) for illness within the immediate family), vacation, lieu time and leave of absence without pay.
What is SAIT doing to prepare for a pandemic outbreak? At all campuses, SAIT is taking proactive measures to minimize the incidence of seasonal flu and H1N1 infection and its impact on operations. Actions include:
Posting H1N1-related information on all notice boards;
Placing hand sanitizers at or near high-traffic public areas, such as food outlets, elevators, labs and in the student residences;
Escalating the regular disinfection of all SAIT buildings;
Increasing the capacity of Campus Health Services to effectively respond to a pandemic;
Updating business continuity plans.
SAIT is also following the Public Health Agency of Canada’s guidelines for reducing the risk of transmission within school settings. These include promoting proper hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, disinfecting commonly-used surfaces, and reporting infection information to local public health authorities.
