An amendment to the sick time policy for Elliot Lake city employees will be discussed by Elliot Lake City Council in two weeks.
City of Elliot Lake Human Rights Coordinator Eric Moss recommended council amend the city’s sick leave policy for its employees as it relates to COVID-19.
His report came to the regular meeting of Elliot Lake City Council Tuesday night.
He asked for an exemption of the city’s sick leave policy for full-time non-unionized staff, CUPE Local 170 members, and full-time firefighters.
In response to COVID-19, he requested that any time lost due to the pandemic not count towards employees' four annual sick days which are now allowed under the policy.
"During the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Elliot Lake continues to focus on protecting the health and safety of its staff, while maintaining the essential services of the City," the report states.
"Due to the evolving nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, this document will be updated when more information is known, or on an as-needed basis.
"All employees will be required to complete a COVID-19 Workplace Assessment prior to entering their jobs at the start of all shifts (per Chief Medical Officer of Health). If the employee answers 'yes" to any of the questions they are to not enter the workplace and to call their manager for next steps.
"This is in place so we can ensure staff entering the workplace have all self-reassessed themselves for COVID-19 prior to all shifts.
"Any employee who is entering a facility which is not their main working location will be required to wear a mask at all times in the facility and will still be required to sign-in for this location as well. Employees are required maintain a 2 metre distance between other individuals in the workplace.
"When a 2 metre distance can not be accomplished, employees must wear a mask/face covering per Ontario Government. Employees who are encouraged to wear a mask/face covering when in communal areas of the workplace."
Topics in the report include travel related issues, compensation entitlements, personal illness and absence taking, leaves of absence/back to school related absences, working from home, protective measures, and the wearing of masks.
Council does not agree with the change, so now staff will put together a Pandemic Policy to reflect changing mandates.
They will review the amended policy to come from another staff report in two more weeks, on Oct. 27.