* Covid-19 Self Reporting Web Form *

• Should I stay home if I am not feeling well?

We encourage you to stay home if you aren’t feeling well to take care of yourself. You may use available paid leave time (sick/PTO) for these days.

We also ask supervisors to be flexible and as accommodating as possible.

For additional questions on staying home or using leave time please talk to your supervisor or contact Human Resources at humanresources@muskegoncc.edu

• What should I do if I think I have COVID -19?

Call your healthcare provider if you feel sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19.

It is recommended by the CDC if you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider and tell them that you may have COVID-19.  This will help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from getting infected or exposed.

If you aren’t feeling well self-isolate (stay home from work and class). We ask faculty and supervisors to be flexible and as accommodating as possible with students and employees who stay home while sick.

• Are there options for me to have a virtual visit with a physician?

Yes, through the MCC BCBS plans you have access to Blue Cross Online Visits. This service can be accessed online or through the BCBS app.

• Is the Coronavirus testing covered by insurance plans?

MCC has worked with BCBS to make the following enhancements to our medical plan to support needs during the COVID 19 pandemic.

• We are fully covering the cost (including cost share) of medically necessary COVID-19 tests that are prescribed to our BCBS plan members by their physicians.
• Prior authorizations for diagnostic tests and for covered services related to COVID-19 that are medically necessary, will be waived.
• If there are shortages or access issues due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Blue Cross will also ensure formulary flexibility. Patients will not be liable for the additional charges stemming from obtaining a non-preferred medication for COVID-19 treatment – or if there is a shortage of drugs stemming from a COVID-19 outbreak.
• We are helping to reduce the need for in-person medical care which may lead to further spreading of the virus. The use of Virtual Care Benefit and the BCBS nurse hotline(1-800-775-2583) can assist in this situation.
• Early medication refill limits on 30-day prescription maintenance medications (consistent with member’s benefit plan) except for opioid drug limits will be waived. The use of 90-day mail order benefits is encouraged when available. Please be patient as this may take some time.  Mail Order Supply 

• Can faculty or staff be sent home if they are sick?

Yes, faculty and staff may be sent home if they are sick.  Paid leave time including sick/PTO are available to use per college policies.

• If I am required to stay home will I be paid?

In the event of a short-term closure, faculty and staff will continue to be paid. If a long-term closure became necessary the Cabinet (leadership team) will plan accordingly.

• Will I qualify for FMLA, if I am absent or a qualifying family member requires care because of COVID-19?

If you are an FMLA eligible staff or faculty member you may qualify to use FMLA. Please contact Human Resources to discuss further if you have questions.

If faculty or staff qualifies for FMLA leave, the FMLA leave runs concurrent with existing paid/unpaid leaves of absence taken for FMLA qualifying purposes.

• Can I be required to report to work in the event of a disease outbreak?

Yes. While the safety of all faculty, staff and students is our top concern, the need to maintain critical functions may require individuals in some positions to report to work.

• Can faculty and staff be asked to work outside their job classification and/or in another department?

Yes, an emergency situation might require working outside of normal job responsibilities. Staff/Faculty represented by unions will be compensated in accordance with the terms of their agreement.

• Is MCC concerned about faculty and staff travel during this time?

Yes, please work to cancel all MCC related travel through May 3, 2020.

• What do I do if I can’t be at work due to a self-quarantine, a State of Michigan “Stay at Home Order” or suspension of on-campus operations?

If you cannot come to work due to self-quarantine based on CDC guidance, at the guidance of a medical doctor or MCC suspension of on campus operations (but not showing signs of illness):

We encourage staff you to work with your supervisor to determine if working remotely is possible. If remote work is not possible based on your role, you are eligible for paid leave time. Contact your supervisor.

Faculty will work with their Department Chair/Program Coordinator to move classes online, or if course coverage is needed.

The Office of Information Technology has been adding to the library of documents on MyMCC (under Student Services and Employee Services tabs) with instructions on how to install Microsoft Office 365 (for free) to how to use Zoom on personal computers.

For more information about staying productive when working from home, please see the linked video here: https://players.brightcove.net/5991984296001/experience_5e7a0aa969bb2f001e806aa2/share.html

• Can faculty/staff be asked why they are sick?

Yes. In order to best support you and the MCC community you may be asked the reason you are out sick.

If faculty or staff test positive for COVID 19 we ask that they report this to human resources.

• Will you tell me if a co-worker has tested positive for COVID-19?

We will not share which co-worker is ill with COVID-19, but we will share if someone at MCC has been confirmed to have COVID-19 if we were on campus during the 14 day incubation period.

• Can my supervisor deny or cancel my vacation time?

Yes. Your vacation must be approved by your supervisor and may be canceled due to MCC needs.

• Will I qualify for Worker’s Compensation if I contract COVID-19?

Workers’ compensation is a system established by state law that provides wage replacement, medical, and rehabilitation benefits to workers who are injured on the job. Because it is extremely difficult to trace the origin of a communicable disease, an illness such as COVID-19, is usually not a covered illness.

• Will I qualify for unemployment if I’m out ill?

If you are out of work due to illness, you would generally be ineligible for unemployment benefits because one must be able and available for full time work in order to be eligible for unemployment benefits.

If faculty or staff are out of work due to their own choice, they would likely be ineligible for benefits because they would not be considered unemployed through no fault of their own.

MCC will provide up to two weeks of continued pay to full-time faculty/staff, adjunct faculty, part-time and student employees.

This time will be available to assist you through the COVID 19 response period including:

When your position does not lend itself to remote work and campus operations are suspended; or when you cannot work because you must care for yourself or someone in your immediate family who is self-isolated or placed in quarantine due to Covid-19 exposure or symptoms.

This additional leave is anticipated to be available through this evolving situation but no longer than December 31, 2020.  In addition, other paid leave time and FMLA may be appropriate in some situations.

• Will payroll continue to be processed in the event of a disease outbreak?

Yes, in the unlikely event of a disease outbreak, the institution is prepared to process critical functions. Payroll is a critical function and plans are in place to continue operations remotely.  We do recommend setting up direct deposit for those employees who have not done so. All plans are in place to process payroll in the event of a disease outbreak, but in the event this is not possible, communications will be issued via appropriate email and MyMCC to share information.

• How should time entry be handled while campus operations are suspended?

Employees who submit time through WebAdvisor or paper timesheet should continue to do so.  Hourly employees and their supervisors who use a paper timesheet should have received an email with an electronic option for submitting time.

Employees who enter time through WebAdvisor should continue to do that as normal.

For employees who have been unable to work due to the campus suspension may enter up to 2 weeks of emergency leave time.

Any employee who had preplanned vacation days can continue to enter vacation time for the time they have taken off.

Staff/Faculty can also continue to request PTO/vacation/sick time per the current processes.

Student employee supervisors should enter 2 weeks of regular hours for student employees per the instructions in the email you received.

• What is happening with the hiring process?

All open positions will be reviewed.  Where appropriate, interviews will continue virtually.

Human Resources is prepared to process adjunct hires for the summer semester.  Department Chairs should utilize the current hiring process and submit a Faculty request to hire and course approval form.  If you have questions regarding this process or would like additional information on virtual interviewing, please contact humanresources@muskegoncc.edu.

• Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

Pay or benefit questions may be directed to the humanresources@muskegoncc.edu.

Additional questions can be emailed to COVID19@muskegoncc.edu, questions received will be answered as quickly as possible. You may also call 231-777-0572 and leave a voicemail, this phone line will be monitored during regular business hours and periodically on the weekends.  A response will be made as quickly as possible.