{"id":769,"date":"2022-01-18T21:10:30","date_gmt":"2022-01-18T21:10:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wyomingtraining.com\/subject-matter-minute-blog\/?p=769"},"modified":"2022-01-19T20:18:24","modified_gmt":"2022-01-19T20:18:24","slug":"subject-matter-minute-episode-53-current-covid-19-policies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wyomingtraining.com\/subject-matter-minute-blog\/subject-matter-minute-episode-53-current-covid-19-policies\/","title":{"rendered":"Subject Matter Minute, Episode #53 – Current Covid-19 Policies"},"content":{"rendered":"

The below post is taken from the Video Blog, the Subject Matter Minute. If it’s a little hard to read, it’s because it’s taken from the spoken word. You can view the episode on YouTube if you would like. Find it here:\u00a0Episode #53 – Current Covid-19 Policies<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

If YouTube is blocked for you or your agency, you can scroll to the bottom of this post to view it from Google Drive. (I would prefer you view on YouTube, so I know how many people have watched)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

You can also listen to an audio version<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hello and welcome to another episode of the Subject Matter Minute! Congratulations on surviving another trip around the sun! Welcome to 2022. Also known as COVID: Year 3.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll get back to the covid thing, but first I want to say that I hope everyone had a great holiday season!? Hopefully, your flight wasn\u2019t one of the thousands that got canceled and you ended up spending the holiday on a smelly coffee-stained airport carpet. I know a lot of people did\u2026. Hopefully, it was none of you.<\/p>\n

I had a fun break. I especially enjoyed it when the snow gods dumped 5 feet of snow on the Snowy Range Ski area. It was over a week, but I got to enjoy the two best days of snowboarding I\u2019ve ever experienced there. (at Snowy Range, that is) It was delightfully deep. And now\u2026 finally\u2026 we have a mountain range full of snow to play in. I was starting to get worried.<\/p>\n

Hopefully, those of you that enjoy the snow are also getting out to play now.<\/p>\n

Alright\u2026 let\u2019s talk about COVID. (music)<\/p>\n

Before we get started, I want to thank Tricia Flores and Nicki Reitmeyer, both of HRD, for getting me the info on what the current state of affairs is at the state regarding covid.<\/p>\n

Also, since the pandemic is an ever-changing, fluid situation, this episode is very time and date-specific. If you are watching much past the weeks of January 10 through, say\u2026. January 28th, you may want to find out if things are different. Today I\u2019m going to tell you what the policies and procedures are NOW.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the basics. Masks. Mask policy at the state is currently set by each agency\u2019s Director. So, if you are just heading back into the office for the first time or you are visiting another agency, please find out before you get there whether or not you need a mask. Let\u2019s just keep that simple.<\/p>\n

Next\u2026 if you have possibly been exposed or are showing symptoms, you can get a covid test that is at no cost to you. Cigna will cover it. For now. They regularly re-evaluate this and coverage could change. The bottom line is that it\u2019s currently free to you and me. Now\u2026 Cigna will not cover the test if it\u2019s simply so you can get on a flight to Cancun. You must have possibly been exposed or be experiencing symptoms. However, as you have probably heard, the Federal Government has purchased home tests that will be available soon. The ordering system is not set up as of this recording. I assume that these tests can be used for whatever situation you deem necessary.<\/p>\n

Next, let\u2019s talk about leave associated with covid and the vaccine.<\/p>\n

First of all, the policy makes it very clear that the hope is that people can telework. Any admin leave will only be allowed if you are unable to telework. (I\u2019ll get back to that)<\/p>\n

Also, while the State personnel system does not ordinarily provide regular paid leave to AWEC and TP01 classifications, the COVID-19 Administrative Leave Policy will apply to both.<\/p>\n

First, the policy goes through a list of negatives. Basically when covid admin leave will be denied. Instead of going through those, let\u2019s concentrate on when it will be granted. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

So, the factors to be considered in determining whether COVID-19 Administrative Leave applies includes:<\/p>\n