MEMO: TIKINAGAN PANDEMIC MEASURES – UPDATE

Date: June 1, 2022

To: All Staff

Re: TIKINAGAN PANDEMIC MEASURES – UPDATE

Tikinagan will be keeping our pandemic measures in place until the end of June 2022 but will be eliminating enhanced measure for staff travelling out of country.

Previously we required staff not to attend Tikinagan offices or have in-person contact with staff or clients for 14 days after their return or the arrival of anyone staying with them who travelled outside of Canada. We are eliminating this enhanced measure. Staff are required only to follow any measures in place provincially or federally regarding travel outside of the country.

Aside from above changes, all other Tikinagan pandemic measures remain in place until the end of June 2022 including:

  • We will continue to have staff at all Tikinagan offices work remotely as much as possible. However, we recognize that in-office work can be more productive and help us feel like part of a “team”. Managers will have the authority to schedule a broader range of in-office work (not just essential/urgent tasks). We will continue to encourage meetings, gatherings or internal and external contacts in-office or off-site to be done virtually or by phone. However, where in-person meetings or training is required or advisable, Managers have the authority to approve this as well as long as all pandemic precautions such a physical distancing, mask wearing, etc. are followed.
  • Staff are reminded to follow the measures in our Pandemic Measures in the Workplace Protocol for any in-office work, including completing the Daily Health Screening before entering our offices (do not go to the office if you answer Yes to any of the screening questions), not coming to the office if you or someone in your household is ill, using hand-sanitizer upon entry and exit, wearing a mask and washing your hands frequently.
  • Please note that we currently have enhanced masking measures requiring staff attending Tikinagan offices to wear disposable medical grade masks (not cloth ones) except when at your desk. Furthermore, if you share an office or work in an open space with others, you must wear masks at all times. N95s/KN95s will continue to be available should staff working in office prefer these. Also a reminder that eye protection, goggles or faceshield, is not mandatory for in-office work, but these are also available for additional protection. Please note eye protection does not replace mandatory mask wearing but can be worn in addition to a mask.
  • Also a reminder that eye protection (faceshield or goggles) and enhanced masking (N95, KN95 or double disposable masks) are required for work-related duties as follows:
    o any time you enter someone’s home or
    o need to be closer than 6 feet to someone not wearing a mask, e.g. carrying a baby or toddlers
    o providing care to a client in a hotel or transporting a client in a vehicle or other closed in space.
  • If a Tikinagan employee contracts COVID-19 (tests positive on a Rapid or PCR Test) or is a close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19 they cannot attend a Tikinagan office/facility, use a Tikinagan vehicle, or have in-person contact with staff or clients for 5 days after testing positive or 5 days after last contact with someone who has tested positive. For AOH staff, they are restricted from working in an AOH for a 10 day period. Staff person must also follow any additional advice of health officials regarding self-isolation or other restrictions.
  • Staff are reminded to consult and follow the Service Contingency Plan to deliver services.
    Premium Pay as amended May 14 will remain in place. Please see attached Premium Pay memo and policy.
  • And a reminder that if staff are tested for COVID-19, they are required to promptly notify their supervisor, PPE Chair Arlene McClendon, Christina Zatorsky & HR Manager Sarah Morin.
  • Tikinagan staff are also required to follow any local pandemic measures put in place. Please keep your supervisor up to date on outbreaks or any changes to pandemic measures in your community.

Please note above list contains enhanced measures in excess of provincial requirements or previous Tikinagan measures and where they conflict the higher levels prescribed above are to be followed.

Attached are the Pandemic Measures in the Workplace Protocol (formerly called the Return to the Workplace Protocol) the Services Contingency Plan, the AOH Staffing Shortage Contingency Plan as well as recent information regarding Premium Pay, employees testing positive or close contact with positives and PPE.

Again, I thank you for your co-operation with these measures. Stay safe and take care of yourselves and your families.