Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the Workplace

Human Resources has been following the developing COVID-19 situation. We understand that managers and employees have many questions related to how COVID-19 may impact the workplace.

OU COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool

Norman Campus:

To learn about when you need to complete the online screening and reporting tool for the Norman campus, visit this site.

Health Sciences Center (HSC) Campus:

To learn about the HSC Campus Return Plan and when to complete the online screening and reporting tool, click here.

Online Screening & Reporting Tool - Use before returning to campus:

Please follow the guidelines in the above links before completing the screening and reporting tool.

HSC Screening & Reporting Tool

Norman Screening & Reporting Tool

Screening Requirements for Returning to Work- Phase III

OU Employees, Students, and Residents: All OU employees and students must complete the online COVID-19 Screening and Reporting Tool by using the blue button link (shown below). This must be completed before resuming on-campus activity or responsibility each time they answer YES to any of the following questions.

The process for addressing sanitizing needs when a COVID-19 individual has been in academic or department space has been updated, based on the increased frequency of cleaning and updated transmission data (HSC Return Plan, Section VI.B.2; also in Tulsa and Norman campus Return Plans).
Instructions for who must complete the online Screening and Reporting Tool have been streamlined (Section VIII of the HSC Return Plan; also in Tulsa and Norman campus Return Plans).

Resources for OU Employees

Resources for OU Employees

The university recognizes COVID-19 has changed all our lives and some employees may need assistance.

General Family Resources:
Oklahoma Food Resources
211 Community Resources

Here are some resources to help families with children:

Helping Kids Manage During the Pandemic flyer
Child Care and High-Quality Educational Resources for OU Families
Visiting and Interviewing Potential Providers
Rainbow Fleet Child Care Services

Resources for families with elders who need care:
Additional Family Support: Elder Care
Bright Horizons Elder Care

Emails from Human Resources:
Day Care Email to OU Employees
Follow-Up Day Care Email to OU Employees

Remote Work Policy & Plan

Remote Work Policy

The university has updated its Remote Work Policy. Although all employees are expected to return to their pre-pandemic, on-campus schedules, the university is implementing an updated version of its pre-pandemic telecommuting plan, now known as the Remote Work Plan. Permission to work remotely will be granted on a limited basis at the discretion of supervisors, and only with the approval of deans and vice presidents.

Click here to read the updated Remote Work Policy and here to access the Remote Work Plan.

Emergency Child Care Services

The University understands that this is a difficult time, especially for parents. In addition to this stressful time, finding childcare may be difficult. As a resource to our working parents, we want to make you aware that the YMCA is offering emergency child care.

This is not an endorsement, but is offered as a resource and information for our parents who may be struggling to find reliable child care during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Read about their toddler childcare services here.

Read about their childcare services here.

The YMCA also offers financial assistance to people who need it. You can apply for assistance here:https://ymcaokc.org/community/emergency-childcare/

COVID-19 Testing and Treatment

Expanded Benefits Related to COVID-19

For employees covered under OU BlueCross BlueShield:

Your OU Benefits team would like to inform you about some enhanced benefits related to your OU medical insurance plan. If you are enrolled in OU’s BlueCross BlueShield PPO Plan or High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) on any campus, your health care coverage has been expanded to cover the following COVID-19 related items.

COVID-19 Testing and Treatment:

COVID-19 testing and treatment are provided at no cost for BlueCross HDHP and PPO members. COVID-19 testing is covered until the cost-share waiver ends with the end of the HHS public health emergency; COVID-19 treatment is covered at no cost through June 30, 2020.

Telehealth/Telemedicine Visits:

The University’s health plans will continue to cover behavioral health and medical services through telemedicine and telehealth visits. Members also have access to clinically appropriate medical and behavioral health services delivered through telemedicine with no copays or deductibles for in-network visits through June 30, 2020 in response to the coronavirus outbreak. This will make it easier for members to access care while reducing their risk of exposure. This change applies to both the PPO and High Deductible Health Plan.

Who can provide telemedicine?
BlueCross in-network providers who offer the service through two-way, live interactive telephone and/or digital video consultations may provide telemedicine, based on state statutes. Norman campus employees also have the option to have virtual visit benefits through MDLive.

Over-the-Counter Medication:

The recently passed Cares Act restores the ability to use Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medicines that previously required a prescription from a physician and for the first time, making feminine hygiene products qualified. Click here to see a full list of items that no longer require a prescription.

Questions?

Contact a Benefits Specialist

Mental Wellness & Well-being Resources

Mental Health & Well-being Resources

Taking care of yourselves during this trying time is very important. View these flyers to know where to turn.
Mental Health & Well-being Resources
Healthcare Wellness During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fraudulent Claims with OESC

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) has reported an elevated level of fraudulent unemployment claims. This problem continues nationwide and is not due to any OU IT or HR security issues. Oklahoma University employees have also experienced these fraudulent claims.

If an employee has received any information from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (email, letter, debit card, or other communication) that they did not initiate, they should complete the form on the OESC website: https://My.OK.Gov/Forms/Report%20Unemployment%20Fraud

In addition to contacting OESC, you will need to contact OU Human Resources to report the fraudulent claim. Here are the contacts for each campus:

Norman: Cathy Bowers cbowers@ou.edu

HSC: Kyle McKnight Kyle-McKnight@ouhsc.edu or Jessica Rodriguez at Jessica-A-Rodriguez@ouhsc.edu

OU-Tulsa: Kim Little at kim-little@ouhsc.edu

OU Information Technology also suggests you report any fraudulent emails sent to an OU email address to OU IT Spam for OU IT Security review.

If You Suspect Fraud
Some employees may have concerns that their information has been used in a fraudulent claim, even if they have not received any information or indication a claim has been filed in their name.

To check if an employee’s information has been stolen:

Go to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission website: https://unemployment.state.ok.us/w2.aspx

The site will ask for a social security number

To file an unemployment claim, you are required to establish a 4 digit personal identification number (PIN) and answer 3 security questions. Your PIN and security questions are used to verify your identity and used each time you access your claim for unemployment. Do not answer these questions if you do not want to initiate an unemployment claim. If the site asks the user to enter their PIN that they did not create, it is possible a fraudulent unemployment claim has been filed on their behalf and they will need to report the claim with the OESC and contact HR Human Resources:

Norman:

cbowers@ou.edu

tporter@ou.edu

HSC:

Kyle-McKnight@ouhsc.edu

Jessica-A-Rodriguez@ouhsc.edu

OU-Tulsa:

kim-little@ouhsc.edu

Text 'ADD' to 405-920-3022 to receive direct updates for OKC and OK County about COVID-19

HSC Return To Campus

Information related to HSC's return to campus can be found here.

Norman Return To Campus

Information related to Norman's return to campus can be found here.

Fraudulent Unemployment Claim?

Email the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission:
fraud@oesc.state.ok.us

For additional information about OESC fraud, visit the tab on the left titled, "Fraudulent Claims with OESC."

Questions?

Please keep in mind circumstances remain fluid and the university will continue to monitor the public health situation, adapting as appropriate.

Employees who may qualify for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act or have a medical reason to work remotely may contact the Norman Human Resources Leave Administrator:

Vanessa Llach: VanessaLlach@ou.edu

Also, please note that any faculty and staff who had existing Telecommuting Agreements on file PRIOR to the onset of the pandemic will need to complete a new Remote Work Plan and receive requisite approvals on the date their existing Telecommuting Agreement expires.

For other questions, contact Human Resources at ohr@ou.edu.

Contact Us

Contact Human Resources

OU COVID-19 Resources

Useful documents and links to COVID-19 Information

COVID-19 TRAVEL SCREENING FORM