The text below is from an email sent to Church employees worldwide on March 16, 2020. See the latest coronavirus updates from the Church.
In an ongoing effort to keep our employees and service missionaries safe during the global pandemic of COVID-19, the following guidelines and policies are being implemented, effective immediately.
Travel Restrictions
Air travel for Church business is suspended for all Church employees worldwide, unless individually approved by executive councils or Area presidencies.
Social Distancing Guidelines
Based on local circumstances and/or government directions, as determined by the Human Resource Executive Committee or Area Presidencies, the following social distancing practices may be applied by your department or Area leadership:
- Restrict meetings of large groups
- Allow employees to work from home whenever possible. Please work with your manager to receive direction on how your department may be implementing this policy.
- Allow smaller workforce groupings to rotate between working from home and normal work locations
- If an office is closed, the workforce will be instructed to work remotely
Self-Isolation Practices
Members of the Church workforce should self-isolate or will be asked to self-isolate when:
- They have upper-respiratory or influenza-like symptoms
- It is recommended by their health care provider
- There is a likelihood that they have been exposed to COVID-19 (e.g. you have recently returned home from a high-risk area or have otherwise been exposed)
Work from Home Policy
Based on local circumstances and/or government directions, as determined by Executive Councils or Area Presidencies, employees or service missionaries may be authorized to work from home when:
- Recommended or directed by government officials
- Their normal work location is closed
- They are in self-isolation but not ill
- They or a family member are immunocompromised
- They are caring for a family member with COVID-19
- They need to care for children during school closures related to COVID-19
Please work with your manager to receive direction on how your department may be implementing this policy.
Sick Leave Policies
Employees should not come to work if they are sick. If an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, the following policies may apply:
Full-time employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19:
- Should use available sick leave for up to a maximum of two weeks
- Would receive Emergency Replacement Pay if additional sick leave is needed for COVID-19 recovery
Part-time, on-call, temporary, and intern employees with COVID-19 will receive their standard pay according to the hours they were scheduled to work (subject to ongoing review).
Pay Policies
Employees (including scheduled part-time, on-call, temporary, and interns) will receive their standard pay when:
- Normal work location is closed for COVID-19 related reasons
- Employee is self-isolated (but not ill)
- Employee is caring for children during school closures related to COVID-19
- Employee is caring for a family member who is in self-isolation or is ill with upper respiratory or influenza-like symptoms
Please note, it is expected that all employees will work from home whenever possible. Work with your manager to receive direction on how your department may be implementing work-from-home policies.
Utah Application as of March 16, 2020
- Employee gatherings/meetings will be limited to fewer than 50 healthy individuals
- Those older than 60 or immunocompromised should avoid gatherings of more than 20 people (consider using technology to join meetings remotely)
- Employees will be allowed to work from home whenever possible. Please work with your manager to receive direction on how your department may be implementing this policy. If you are asked to work from home, please refer to the working from home resources page for help.
- Church offices remain open for the workforce, including stand-alone operations (e.g. Church Office Building, Global Services Department, Joseph Smith Building, Riverton Office Building, Bishops’ storehouses, Beehive Clothing, Granite Mountain Records Vault)
Please follow the direction of your local department or Area leadership related to the implementation of these guidelines and policies.
We will be providing additional information and direction as the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve. Ongoing updates can be found on home.churchofjesuschrist.org.
Please remember that your Heavenly Father will provide peace, comfort, and hope in these times of uncertainty. If you have any questions, please contact your human resource representative.
Thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Should I be working from home during this time?
A. Please work with your manager to receive direction on how your department or Area may be implementing a work-from-home policy.
Q. What resources are available if I am asked to work from home?
A. A working from home resources page has been created to provide help with technology and other training resources to help you stay productive while working from home.
Q. What if my work location is closed?
A. If a work location is closed, employees and service missionaries should work with their manager and human resource representative to begin working or serving from home if your duties can be performed remotely as determined by your managing director or DTA. Alternative work or assignments may be offered to individuals who cannot perform their normal work or service functions remotely.
Q. What if I am in a high-risk group for COVID-19 illness?
A. Employees and service missionaries in a high-risk group for COVID-19 illness should work with their manager and human resource representative to begin working or serving from home if your duties can be performed remotely as determined by your managing director or DTA. Alternative work or assignments may be offered to individuals who cannot perform their normal work or service functions remotely.
Q. What if I already have business travel scheduled?
A. You should work with your department or Area travel representative to cancel any business travel scheduled within the next several weeks, unless otherwise directed by your executive council or Area presidency.
Q. What if I am diagnosed with COVID-19?
A. Employees should not come to work if they are sick. If an employee is diagnosed with COVID-19, the following policies may apply:
Full-time employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19:
- Should use available sick leave for up to a maximum of two weeks
- Would receive Emergency Replacement Pay if additional sick leave is needed for COVID-19 recovery
Part-time, on-call, temporary, and intern employees with COVID-19 may receive their standard pay according to the hours they were scheduled to work (subject to ongoing review).
Q. Can I use sick leave for COVID-19 illness even if I haven’t been diagnosed?
A. Yes. As with any other illness, benefited employees may use paid sick leave when they exhibit symptoms but are not diagnosed with COVID-19.
Q. What should I do if I have upper respiratory or influenza like symptoms or there is a strong likelihood I have been exposed to COVID-19?
A. Contact your primary health care provider and review your situation with them. You should self-isolate or will be asked to self-isolate when:
- It is recommended by your health care provider
- You have upper-respiratory or influenza-like symptoms
- There is a likelihood that you have been exposed to COVID-19 (e.g. you have recently returned home from a high-risk area or have otherwise been exposed)
- During your self-isolation, technology may be used to support working from home
Q. What should I do to reduce my risk of exposure to COVID-19?
A. Please refer to information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), or your local government agencies for information on how to reduce your risk of exposure.
Q. How long will these policies and guidelines be in effect?
A. These policies and guidelines will be in effect until additional information is provided by your department or Area leadership.
Q. What is being done at Church Headquarters to support a clean and germ-free work environment?
A. The Headquarters Facilities custodial staff has implemented the following procedures to help reduce the spread of germs, including COVID-19:
- Use of a high strength, hospital grade disinfectant to disinfect frequently touched surfaces throughout the day including door handles, handrails, public phones, elevator buttons, etc.
- Regular cleaning and disinfecting (multiple times a day) of restroom surfaces
- Routine cleaning and disinfecting of conference rooms and other shared spaces
- Frequently checking that soap and hand sanitizer supplies are maintained and available for use
- Stocking of Infectious Disease Exposure Response kits in each facility to disinfect spaces/areas that may have been exposed to an infectious disease like COVID-19