Employee Health and Wellness

Overview and Guiding Principles

Rider University remains committed to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for our students, employees and all other community members.

Rider has developed policies and procedures to help ensure the health, safety and well-being of our entire community. They are no more or less restrictive than necessary to support the University’s mission and its commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all members of the Rider community. The Plan aligns and will remain consistent with CDC and State of New Jersey guidelines and requirements. All supervisors are expected to remain current with the Plan.

Any changes to these guidelines, in addition to changes resulting from our ever-evolving knowledge and understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic, will be communicated as quickly as possible.

General workplace expectations and guidelines

Our collective success relies upon our cooperation and collaboration in following the lawful and reasonable guidelines set forth herein, which are all consistent with federal, state, and/or local mandates. We appreciate your professionalism, patience, and collegiality as we navigate these unchartered waters, and ask that you remain engaged and feel free to reach out to your departmental leaders and/or Human Resources with any questions.

The University will continue to regularly communicate with students, faculty and staff, informing all of the latest safety and health information including administrative controls/physical distancing requirements, hygiene practices, personal protective equipment (e.g. face masks), monitoring and surveillance (e.g. temperature checks, testing and tracing) as well as other best practices.

Important updates about:

Gradual return to work

Rider began a gradual return to on-campus work on August 17, 2020. This was based on departmental needs to meet operational obligations and with the division head’s stated support.

To the extent possible, a limit of 50 percent occupancy should be adhered to in all common work environments until further notice, even in those offices that have been outfitted by Facilities to help minimize interaction. This restriction responds to the need to decrease the number of people on campus at any given time to meet physical distancing guidelines and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Supporting physical distancing practices

Staffing models

Consideration for the following options will be taken by departmental leaders and division heads to maintain physical distancing best practices. Mission-critical, on-campus presence will be given priority. Implementation of these staffing models will be made at the departmental or division level, and at the discretion of the supervisor.

Teleworking and remote work: Those who can work remotely to fulfill their work responsibilities, as determined by each department head, should continue to do so. This is the default option until further notice.
Alternating days: In order to limit the number of individuals and interactions among those on campus, departments should consider scheduling partial staffing (no more than 50%) on alternating days to eliminate having too many staff members in shared office space at once.
Staggered reporting/departing: The beginning and end of the workday typically bring many people together at common entry/exit points of buildings. Staggering reporting and departure times by at least 30 minutes will reduce traffic in common areas to meet physical distancing requirements.

In situations where the number of employees preferring to continue to work remotely into the fall semester exceeds the on- campus staffing needs, after assessing the extent to which each individual’s position allows for remote work (or can be reasonably altered to allow for remote work), supervisors will give priority consideration to individuals with the following factors:

Employees in general at-risk categories as defined by the CDC (see below)
Employees with child care or family care obligations resulting from the pandemic

In addition to the above, any employee with a documented medical condition containing specific accommodation requests should reach out to Human Resources directly, as described below.

As on-site staffing increases, we will closely monitor and assess the potential spread of the virus, as well as existing policies and procedures to mitigate it. If localized outbreaks emerge, tighter restrictions and reduced staffing may need to be implemented.

At-risk campus populations

According to the CDC, individuals with certain conditions may have a higher risk for COVID-19 infection. Those conditions may include:

Adults 65 and older
People with HIV
Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
Chronic lung disease
Diabetes
Serious heart conditions
Chronic kidney disease being treated with dialysis
Severe obesity
Being immunocompromised

Staff members who have been instructed to return to work on-site and have concerns about doing so as a result of a medical condition that falls within one of the CDC High Risk Categories or is pregnant should consult with Human Resources.

Assessing/modifying work spaces

In response to a facilities need survey conducted this summer, Facilities implemented a variety of work space modifications. Department heads should reach out directly to Tim Drury in Facilities to discuss ideas for additional physical changes and to further assess open work environments and meeting rooms to institute measures to physically separate and increase distance between employees, students and visitors.

These can include the following:

Placing additional visual cues such as floor decals, colored tape or signs to indicate to customers where they should stand while waiting in line.
Placing one-way directional signage for large open work spaces with multiple through-ways to increase distance between employees moving through the space.
Designating specific stairways for up or down traffic if building space allows.

Workplace expectations

General expectations

The following requirements are in effect for faculty and staff:

Complete daily symptom monitoring via CampusClear before coming to campus and only come to campus if you are cleared accordingly. Supervisors have the authority to check employees’ CampusClear results.
Never come to campus if you are feeling ill or have been in close contact with someone who is diagnosed or symptomatic without first contacting your primary healthcare provider.
Maintain at least six feet distance from co-workers, particularly in more open, shared environments. Where possible, have at least one workspace separating you from another co-worker.
No more than one person should be in the same office space unless the required six feet of distancing can be consistently maintained.
Wear a face mask or covering at all times while:
- in a shared work space/room in close proximity to others.
- in a reception/receiving area while others are present and potentially in close proximity.
- inside any facility where others are present, including walking in narrow hallways.
- in break rooms, conference rooms and other meeting locations.
In-person meetings are discouraged and should be held virtually under most circumstances. If a meeting must be in-person, it must be in a large room with attendees six feet away from each other and wearing face masks or covering.
Break rooms, lunchrooms and gathering areas are closed for gatherings. They may still be utilized for food preparation, but only with one individual in the room at a time.
Visitors who are not directly related to the individual’s or unit’s work are not allowed.
Maintain healthy hygiene practices:
- Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer frequently. Additional hand sanitizer dispensers are being added at various locations throughout campus.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow.
- Regularly clean all high touch areas in your direct workspace.
- Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Expectations specific to classrooms

Safe classroom spaces have been prepared that adhere to current state and CDC guidelines. A particular focus was placed on specialized areas (e.g., science laboratories, music and dance instruction). There was a reconfiguration/seat delineation of furniture in rooms to promote social distancing for spaces that do not already lend themselves to physical distancing. The front row of classrooms were arranged so that it is an appropriate distance from the white/chalkboard, providing faculty with the ability to continue to lecture away from their podium, while at the whiteboard, without a face shield.

While in a classroom setting, we recognize that faculty may have difficulties teaching with a cloth mask. Given these facts, we will provide a clear, plexiglass face shield to any faculty member who wishes to wear this alternative type of mandatory face covering while teaching, in lieu of a cloth face mask. Alternatively, if a faculty member wishes, we can arrange to place a plexiglass shield on a classroom podium, although this option will limit the range of movement in the front of the class. Seating in classrooms will also be altered to allow greater distance between the instructor and the students in the class. Students are required to wear their face mask or covering and faculty are empowered to enforce this requirement as they would any classroom rule that they might establish.

We developed guidelines for traffic flow and enhanced cleaning. We also identified unique areas on campus to create opportunities to further deliver the academic curriculum while maintaining social distance (e.g., Cavalla, Mercer Room, Bart Luedeke Center/Yvonne theaters, outdoor spaces).

Daily symptom monitoring and CampusClear

Faculty, staff and students are required to monitor daily symptoms, including temperature taking, prior to coming to campus on any day, and indicate the results of their daily monitoring via CampusClear, a free mobile application available for iPhone and Android devices and the web. Do NOT come to campus if you are not cleared to do so by CampusClear.

Supervisors are authorized and encouraged to check that their employees have completed their CampusClear requirements and are cleared to come to campus that day. Faculty are authorized to check that students have completed their CampusClear requirements and are cleared to come to campus that day, and that they are wearing face masks or coverings, before allowing them to attend in-person classes. Students who do not cooperate with these requirements will not be allowed to attend their in-person classes and run the risk of violating the Student Code of Social Conduct.

In addition, Dining Services, the Student Recreation Center Fitness Center and the University Bookstore will also check that you have completed CampusClear and are cleared to be on campus via the app before they will allow anyone to utilize the Fitness Center, enter the Bookstore, dine-in or pick up food in Daly Dining Hall or Cranberry’s.

COVID-19 testing and contacting Human Resources

Employees are responsible for securing their own COVID-19 tests as needed via their primary health care provider, testing site or other testing provider. Human Resources has a list of available testing sites to share with you.

Employees who are not cleared by CampusClear must not come to campus, should monitor their symptoms and contact their primary health care provider when appropriate. You may not return to campus until you are symptom free, including being fever-free, for at least 24 hours. We encourage you to contact your primary health care provider as appropriate as well as your dean, division head or supervisor if you expect to be out for a period of time.

COVID-19 symptoms overlap with those of other illnesses or conditions such as the common cold, flu, allergies, etc. Out of an abundance of caution, do not come to campus if you present any of the symptoms listed in CampusClear. If you believe your symptoms are due to something other than COVID-19, please consult with your primary health care provider.

If your health care provider recommends that you be tested as a result of the existence of symptoms, it is because he or she suspects you may have COVID-19. Therefore, you cannot come to campus while awaiting test results no matter how long it takes to get those results. Test results can take anywhere from a day to up to a week or more to be received. We recommend you contact your dean, division head or supervisor if you expect to be out for a period of time.

Employees who are awaiting physician recommended COVID-19 test results must not come to campus for any reason. If you test negative, you may return to campus only when you are no longer symptomatic and are fever-free for 24 hours. If you test positive, you must notify Human Resources which will, in turn, conduct contact tracing and inform your dean, division head and/or supervisor. You can not return to campus until cleared by your primary health care provider.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 must contact Human Resources as soon as possible. You must not come to campus for any reason until you are cleared to do so by your primary health care provider. Human Resources will, in turn, conduct contact tracing as needed and inform their dean, division head or supervisor regarding quarantine or isolation requirements that will keep them from coming to campus for an extended time.

Employees are asked to contact Human Resources and their supervisor to indicate that they are cleared to return to campus by their primary health care provider upon completion of quarantine or isolation.

Employees who are determined by a contact tracer to be a close contact of someone who is COVID-19 positive must quarantine for 14 days and contact Human Resources. Human Resources will discuss with you the conditions that must be met before you can return to campus.

Employees who receive a call from one of Rider’s contact tracers are expected to cooperate with them as part of their obligation as a member of the Rider community. Contact tracers are trained by the Johns Hopkins Contact Tracing Program and conduct their work with confidentiality and sensitivity.

If you have any questions or concerns related to this information, please contact Human Resources at 609-480-9648.

Contact tracing

Rider is working closely with the Lawrence Township Health Department to provide contact tracing for faculty, staff and students who test positive for COVID-19 and/or who come in close contact, as defined by the CDC, with someone who tests positive or is symptomatic.

Testing, quarantine and isolation

Employees will be responsible for securing their own COVID-19 tests as needed via their primary health care provider, testing site or other testing provider. Employees also have the option of setting up a video visit with a Capital Health Medical Group primary care physician who can generate a prescription and direction for COVID-19 testing. Capital Health Hopewell will provide drive-up testing for Capital Health Medical Group patients.

Employees who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been identified by contact tracers to be in close contact with someone who tests positive or is symptomatic must be cleared by CHCM before returning to work. CHCM will work closely with Human Resources which, in turn, will inform deans and department heads when employees require quarantine or isolation.

Rider has engaged the services of an industrial hygienist, an architectural firm and a mechanical engineer to examine campus building cleaning protocols, room layouts and HVAC/ventilation, respectively.

Housekeeping staff clean offices, classrooms, restrooms and residential spaces based on CDC guidelines for disinfection and Occupational and Environmental Safety Office (OESO) protocols. There are increased nightshift deep cleanings and more frequent classroom cleaning. Facilities Management is also maintaining anti-bacterial soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand-sanitizer stations and sanitizing wipes throughout campus buildings and residence halls. Building occupants should also wipe down commonly used surfaces before and after use with products that meet the EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19 and are appropriate for the surface. This includes any shared-space locations or equipment (e.g., copiers, printers, computers, A/V and other electrical equipment, coffee makers, desks and tables, light switches, door knobs, etc.). All university vehicles for Athletics, Public Safety, Student Life, Science and Facilities are frequently sanitized.

Computer labs: Computer labs that are open during the fall semester will do so with enforced minimum spacing for social distancing, and may require use by appointment if space is restricted. Lab use is subject to change based on state regulations, sustainability of operations, and necessity. Laptops are available to those in need to offset lab use. Computer labs will be disinfected daily in entirety and both before and after use by individuals. Disinfectants will be made available for individual use. Face coverings will also be required while using computer labs. Sanitizing wipe stations will be available and should be used before and after computer lab use.
Elevators: Use of elevators should be limited where possible to avoid close proximity with others in a confined space. Those using elevators are required to wear a face mask or face covering regardless of traveling alone or with others. You should also avoid touching the elevator buttons with your exposed hand/fingers, if possible. Wash your hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizers upon departing the elevator. Additional disinfecting protocols will be established to assist in maintaining a safe space.
Library: Plexiglass shields have been installed in the Library at the circulation desk and virtual meetings and consultations with librarians will be promoted to reduce density.
Mechanical and HVAC systems: These have been assessed and readied prior to reopening of buildings. Rider followed the recommendations outlined in the “American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Position Document on Infectious Aerosols” dated April 14, 2020. For most campus buildings and areas, the HVAC system will operate under normal conditions. Where possible, additional ventilation and outdoor air will be increased. Filtration media will be increased to be a minimum of MERV-13 rated, if possible, for each system. Additional ventilation may be considered for certain higher risk areas, if identified. Temperature and humidity control will be maintained as normal. CDC guidance states that while HVAC improvements can aid in lowering the transmission of the virus, none of it can compare to physical distancing and wearing masks while indoors.
Research labs: Rider University maintains a small number of faculty research laboratories. During the academic year, these are used at a minimal level by approximately five to seven faculty members in the sciences, along with one to two undergraduate students working on independent research projects. These spaces are large enough to accommodate 6 feet of social distancing for up to two people at any given time. These requirements will be adhered to during the fall semester. As with our other policies, all individuals will wear masks or cloth face coverings at all times.
Restrooms: Limited maximum occupancy of restrooms will be posted based on the close proximity and number of sinks to ensure appropriate social distancing. Face coverings will be worn in all restrooms. Prominent signage will be displayed advising all occupants to wash hands thoroughly afterward using the facilities to reduce the potential transmission of the virus. Additional disinfecting protocols will be established to assist in maintaining a safe space.

Now, more than ever, our University community must rely on each other’s sound judgment, professionalism, patience, compassion, and sense of responsibility and community. While we cannot guarantee a COVID-free environment, we are working hard to limit infection and spread of the disease. However, only by all of us exercising extreme caution and concern for all in our daily interactions and decision making, and modeling the behavior that we expect of our students, can we meet this shared responsibility.