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INFORMATION FOR FIELD STAFF Go back to Coronavirus Guidance page

INFORMATION FOR FIELD STAFF

Can I get paid time off to get vaccinated?

RF will permit up to four (4) hours of paid time off per COVID-19 vaccine injection for full and part time employees who are vaccinated during their scheduled work time. While you are not required to get permission to schedule a vaccination during work time, please be sure to notify your supervisor once you have an appointment, when practicable. Record your appointment(s) on your timesheet under the “Other Paid” column and then select “COVID-19 Vaccine” from the drop-down menu options. Provide documentation for the appointment(s) to your RF Payroll Coordinator.
How will I receive my paycheck?

Direct deposit will be the easiest and quickest way to receive your wages. If you are not currently enrolled, but are interested in direct deposit, please visit our website to enroll under My Payroll and Benefits. We strongly encourage you to enroll in Direct Deposit immediately.
How will my wages continue if I am unable to come to work for an illness related to COVID-19?

Special COVID-19 Sick Leave: RFCUNY has provided a temporary leave benefit of up to 14 days of paid sick leave to its employees for their own COVID-19 illnesses and to take care of ill family members with a confirmed case of COVID-19. This benefit can be used for a COVID-19 illness, any disabling condition from a COVID-19 illness, and any mandatory or precautionary order of quarantine or isolation (if related to travel, see Question #17). Special COVID-19 Sick Leave is not applicable in cases where an employee is deemed asymptomatic or has not yet been diagnosed with any medical condition and is physically able to work. Sick leave, annual leave, or unscheduled holiday leave may be used in those cases. To apply for COVID-19 Sick Leave, please complete the Confidential COVID-19 Report form and submit supporting medical documentation to LeavesAdministration@rfcuny.org.
Will I still be paid if I can’t work because of a personal illness or to care for family members?

You may use sick leave and/or Paid Family Leave for this purpose.

Paid Sick Time: RFCUNY provides its employees with significant paid sick time both for their own illnesses and to care for ill family members. Paid sick time should be charged for any illness not attributable to a confirmed case of COVID-19. A description of these benefits is available in RF Policy No. 506-H, Time Off and Leave Benefits.

Paid Family Leave (PFL): RFCUNY employees may use PFL to care for a sick family member whose illness is not attributable to a confirmed case of COVID-19. A description of this benefit is available in RF Policy No. 506-H, Time Off and Leave Benefits.
Currently, I need a note from a physician if I am out of work for a personal illness for more than 5 days. Will I need a similar note if I am out because of COVID-19 illness?

We will follow established sick leave and disability policies. Therefore, you will need a note from a physician if you are out of work for more than 5 days due to personal illness. If you are unable to get a doctor’s note due to reasons related to COVID-19 and want to return to work, please contact RF Human Resources by email leavesadministration@rfcuny.org.
I am using sick leave for issues related to COVID-19. How do I complete my timesheet?

If you are ill with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you are caring for an ill family member with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or you are subject to an order of Mandatory Isolation or Precautionary Quarantine (if related to travel, see Question #17), select “Other Paid” on the timesheet and select COVID-19 Sick from the drop-down list.
Am I required to use my existing sick leave accruals if I have a confirmed case of COVID-19, am caring for an ill family member with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or are in Mandatory Isolation or Precautionary Quarantine due to COVID-19?

No, the up to 14 days of Special COVID-19 Sick Leave is in addition to any sick leave, annual leave or unscheduled holiday leave accruals you may already have. If related to travel, see Question #17.
I am not feeling well but I can’t get to a doctor. Is there an alternative?

Yes, Empire Blue Cross provides telemedicine services through their Live Health Online program. This telemedicine program allows members enrolled in the PPO, POS, and EPO plans to access medical and mental healthcare remotely. Live Health Online can be accessed online at www.livehealthonline.com or by calling 1-844-784-8409. You may also contact the 24/7 Nurseline at 800-337-4770. Remember to have your Empire Member Enrollment Number handy. You can access your Empire information including member ID number, check on prescription details, view claim history, or find a provider through the Empire App - Sydney Health.
I am concerned about my prescriptions. What if there is a shortage of my medication?

Ingenio Rx, Empire’s prescription drug manager, is closely monitoring the supply of medications available to members. If they see there could be a shortage of a certain drug, they will find alternate medications that you could take for about the same price. This is a great time to think about changing from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply of any prescription medicines you take on a regular basis. If you don’t have a prescription for a 90-day supply, talk to your doctor to see if a 90-day supply would work for you. You can even get them through home delivery pharmacy. If you have specific questions about the medicine you take, call the pharmacy services number on your member ID card 833-271-2374.
Whom can I contact with my benefits questions?

You may contact your assigned Campus Benefits Coordinator by calling 212-417-8600, option 4, or email benefits@rfcuny.org. Please allow for some longer response times due to the high volume of calls and emails.

Further information from our health insurance carrier, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, can be found at:
Anthem Coronavirus FAQs
Anthem Coronavirus Flyer
Sydney Care Mobile App
Live Health Online Telemedicine
COVID-19 Coverage Options
The COVID-19 Vaccines – Myths vs. Facts
Empire Video: Coverage Options when there is a Qualifying Life Event
COVID 19 Test Site Finder
What happens to all my benefits if I am placed on unpaid leave (furloughed)? Do I continue to have health insurance, retirement contributions, flexible spending plans and other benefits?

Health and Dental Insurance – Typically, benefits-eligible employees have one month of coverage beyond the last month in which they worked. In other words, if your last day of work is March 15th your health insurance coverage (and dental for full time employees) remains in effect through April 30th. Another example is that if you are furloughed on April 2nd your health insurance will run through May 31st. After the additional month, the employee will be eligible to continue health insurance through COBRA. Pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act, employees who have lost their coverage involuntarily are eligible for a 100% subsidy for the cost of the COBRA premium for the months of April 2021 through September 2021.  Furloughed benefits-eligible employees will be sent information regarding this temporary subsidy. For more information, contact your Campus Benefits Coordinator at benefits@rfcuny.org .

Pension and Retirement Benefits – Contributions to the TIAA Defined Contribution Plan, TIAA Tax Deferred Annuity Plan, and TIAA 457(b) Plan will be suspended should you be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. Mandatory employer and employee contributions as well as elective contributions will resume when you return from leave without pay. Should you wish to change your TDA or 457(b) elected deferrals please submit a new Salary Reduction Agreement and/or 457(b) Deferral Agreement form to your Campus Benefits Coordinator. You may email benefits@rfcuny.org for more information. You may call 800-842-2252 to speak to a TIAA representative.

Flexible Spending Plans - Employees enrolled in the RF’s Pre-Tax Flexible Spending Program (Medical, Transit, Parking, or Dependent Care) through ABS may submit receipts for expenses incurred for up to 120 days from when their unpaid leave of absence starts. Employees who are reinstated and active during the plan year have allowances as a result of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021. This law includes several provisions that provide relief for the Section 125 healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA). The provisions include the temporary modification of the Plan to allow active RF employees to increase, decrease, enroll, or waive enrollment without a qualifying life event for Plan Year 2021. A participant cannot reduce their election to less than what has already been reimbursed by ABS or contributed by the employee. The provision also allows for the temporary modification of the grace period, FSA reimbursements after an active employee waives or de-enrolls from the plan, and the dependent care FSA limiting age increases to “14” for the remainder of the plan year in which the child aged out. Only the unused portion of the dependent care FSA balance is available to reimburse for qualified childcare expenses. For more information about the COVID-19 temporary relief plan changes, please contact your Campus Benefits Coordinators at benefits@rfcuny.org, or contact ABS at www.abs125.com or 877-732-8125.  Claims may be submitted online www.abs125.com, by email rfcunyclaims@abs125.com or by fax to 860-673-2207.

Health Advocacy and EAP, Life Insurance, and Long Term Disability – During the period of furlough, the employer-paid benefits including health advocacy and employee assistance program, life insurance coverage, and long term disability insurance will continue. Health Advocate trained advisors, counselors, and nurse advocates can be reached 24/7 at 866-799-2728 or online at https://members.healthadvocate.com/Home
What has changed with respect to my flexible spending plans?

Flexible Spending Plans
In response to IRS guidance released on May 12, 2020, the RF has applied the following COVID-19 Relief Provisions to the Advanced Benefits Strategies Flexible Spending Plans. These provisions allow temporary changes to Section 125 healthcare and dependent care flexible spending plans to assist with the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 2020, the Section 125 Healthcare and Dependent Care plan will allow for:
- Mid-year increase, decrease, addition or revocation of 2020 healthcare and dependent care plan elections.
- Grace Periods for 2019 Healthcare and/or Dependent Care plans are extended to allow for unused funds to reimburse expenses incurred through December 31, 2020.
How to make a change?
Written attestation from the participant is required to make a new annual election, increase, decrease, or revoke the current Healthcare and/or Dependent Care Expense annual pretax election.

Complete a new ABS Enrollment Form and submit to your Campus Benefits Coordinator –Cecilia_Patxot@rfcuny.org, Lisa_Mayo@rfcuny.org, Sara_Tahir@rfcuny.org
ABS may be contacted at 877-732-8125. Claims may be submitted online www.abs125.com, by email rfcunyclaims@abs125.com or by fax to 860-673-2207.
What Telemedicine Services are available to me?

Empire Blue Cross provides telemedicine services through their Live Health Online program. This telemedicine program allows members enrolled in the PPO, POS, and EPO plans to access medical and mental healthcare remotely. Live Health Online can be accessed online at www.livehealthonline.com or by calling 1-844-784-8409. You may also contact the 24/7 Nurseline at 800-337-4770. Remember to have your Empire Member Enrollment Number handy. You can access your Empire information including member ID number, check on prescription details, view claim history, or find a provider through the Empire App - Sydney Health.

Ease of use
Use your smartphone, tablet or computer with a webcam. Sign up at livehealthonline.com or download the app on your smart device. Registration is free
24/7 access to doctors
See a board-certified doctor in minutes, right when you need it. For things like the flu, cold, sinus infection, pink eye, rashes, fever and more.
Convenience
Maintain social distancing and avoid long appointments or office visit wait times. Get connected to a doctor in about 10 minutes or less.

Telehealth and Telemedicine Information

Learn more or contact your Campus Benefits Coordinator at benefits@rfcuny.org or 212-417-8600 option #4 should you have any questions.
What important benefit contacts should I be aware of?

Research Foundation Unemployment information: Julia_Durant@rfcuny.org
Empire Customer Service: 800-453-0113; www.empireblue.com
Cigna Dental Customer Service: 800-244-6224; www.cigna.com
Advanced Benefits Strategies: 877-732-8125; www.abs125.com
Health Advocate: 866-799-2728; www.healthadvocate.com/rfcuny
TIAA: 800-842-2252; https://www.tiaa.org/public/tcm/rfcuny
What other resources exist?

New York State Department of Health
New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
World Health Organization
Supporting At-Home Children. Resources for Parents.

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Research Opportunities

Sponsors have issued announcements on COVID-19-related research grants since the beginning of the pandemic. Most research opportunities are being provided by the Federal government, specifically by the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. Please refer to Guidance to CUNY Biomedical, Health, Science, and Social Science PIs on COVID-19.
Opportunities are also being provided by Arts and Culture sponsors primarily focused on relief for individuals and organizations that have been economically impacted by the crisis. Please refer to Guidance to Arts and Culture PIs on COVID-19 for additional information.
If you currently have an active NSF grant, and COVID-19 has prevented you from providing research experiences for students, consider asking NSF whether it is willing to provide you with Supplemental Funding for a Virtual REU.
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education, has issued guidance to all grants programs in response to COVID-19. Please refer to FAQs for U.S. Department of Education OPE Grants Programs.
Please note that COVID-19-related grant opportunities are available in a significant number of disciplines, including thematic areas where CUNY faculty have some competitive strengths. In addition to medical and scientific research directly related to fighting the virus and its spread throughout the world, other areas include education research projects that contribute to understanding the rapid shifts in education during the crisis and social science research that aims to understand the disruption, reproduction, and deepening of educational inequality caused by the crisis. Please refer to COVID-19-Related Opportunities for CUNY Faculty for a list of these opportunities.
Feel free to contact the Research Foundation of the City University of New York, Office of Award Pre-Proposal Support for guidance on applying for these grants. You can email us at apps@rfcuny.org or Explore Our Pre-Award Resources.

Information For Principal Investigators

Flexible and Remote Work Guidelines Updated

CUNY colleges have developed new access procedures for working on site. Please check with individual college websites below for campus and research reopening plans, which meet or exceed the minimum requirements provided by the NYS Model Airborne Infectious Disease Exposure Prevention Standard. Before reporting to work at any campus, office and facility throughout the CUNY system, all Faculty and staff, including RF staff, must:

Complete mandatory COVID-19 training. Please maintain a copy of the certificate of completion for your records.
Engage in daily health screening using the Everbridge Health Screening Application. To access the Everbridge App you must follow the instructions for visitors (i.e., download the app, then open the link in the email on your phone).

In addition, CUNY has arranged for priority testing for Faculty and staff (including RF staff) who report to work ON SITE. RF employees must go to the HR Department of the campus at which they report to work to obtain a letter to bring with them, along with their CUNY ID, to one of the testing sites listed on CUNY’s website.

Returning to Work Support Services New

While the pandemic shifted our lives and changed how we approach work, as the world begins to open up and routine life resumes, the transition to returning to work can bring about its own set of stressors. Research Foundation of CUNY (RF) is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that your health and safety are of utmost priority as we begin to navigate a post-pandemic new reality.

Being anxious in these times is normal. You are not alone. Having the right information can help you feel more calm and in control. Keep up to date on the RF’s Return to Work Guidelines and take advantage of the return to work support services available through our Employee Assistance Program Health Advocate.

Health Advocate is available 24/7. All personal information is kept confidential

Access online (anonymous log in available)
via the Health Advocate App on your mobile, tablet, or electronic device
By phone at 866-799-2728.

Health Advocate webinars are available to all RF employees regardless of status

Employees: gain tips to ease the transition and cope with any uneasiness.
Managers: learn to provide support to your employees facing challenges. Sign up for Health Advocate’s Thursday Manager Webinar Series
EAP support for families, children, caregivers, First Responders, and military personnel
Address Financial Stress and Stability
Gain tips and tools for Developing Resilience
Maintain Your Emotional Wellbeing

External Resources

Equity and Inclusion

We want to take this opportunity to remind our diverse RFCUNY community that we are an organization that takes pride in its welcoming environment and unwavering promotion of the values of equity and inclusion. These challenging times are not an excuse to behave any differently towards those with who we serve, live and work. Any staff who experience discrimination of any kind are urged to speak with RFCUNY’s Office of Human Resources.

Stopping The Spread

What You Need to Know Now About COVID-19

COVID-19 and its variants are circulating widely throughout New York City. To fight the spread and protect ourselves and each other, the city’s Health Department advises that everyone should act on the assumption that they are exposed to the virus and susceptible to getting sick and spreading it further.

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness with symptoms that can range from mild (a sore throat or fatigue) to a severe condition such as pneumonia. Most people will not need medical attention for their symptoms, and some will have no symptoms at all. But that doesn’t mean they can’t spread the virus. All New Yorkers need to monitor their health carefully so that together we can slow the spread and protect those at higher risk, along with our health care workers who are at the front lines of our battle against the virus.

If you are sick, you must stay home. Only seek health care if you are very sick. Even if you are not sick, stay home as much as you can: work from home, study from home, avoid all unnecessary interactions.

How it spreads

COVID-19 is transmitted mainly between people who are in close contact with each other (within about 6 feet). The virus is commonly spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or be inhaled into the lungs. The symptoms may appear as soon as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure.
Public health experts are still learning about the mechanisms and rates of spread but it is believed that people who are experiencing symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, high fever and difficulty breathing are most likely to transmit the virus to others. However, even asymptomatic people – who may account for nearly one in five cases – can transmit the virus. That helps explain why it is known to be spreading between people with no link to another positive case.
The virus can also live on surfaces as long as several days and be transmitted when someone touches an infected surface and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes without washing or sanitizing their hands thoroughly.

Who is most at risk

People at most risk for severe cases of COVID-19 are those over 50 or who have other health conditions, including chronic lung disease, heart disease, diabetes, cancer or a weakened immune system. However, public health officials stress that anyone, including young people in perfect health, can get the virus and become severely ill—and spread it to more vulnerable family members and contacts.
People with regular close contact with someone who has or could have COVID-19 are also at higher risk. This includes people who live in the same home, caretakers who work in the home or sexual partners.

How to protect yourself—and everyone else

Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to help stop the spread of germs and protect yourself against other infections.
Get the flu vaccine; it will not protect you from coronavirus but will help protect you against the flu which has similar symptoms to this coronavirus.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when sneezing or coughing --- do not use your hands.
Do not touch your face with unwashed hands.
Stay home. Even if you are healthy and have no sign of illness, go out only for essential tasks, such as getting groceries or supplies for medical care. Use delivery services when possible.
When you do go out, practice “social distancing” and take it seriously. Try to stay at least 6 feet from others in public spaces. Avoid crowded areas of stores. And of course, don’t shake hands or hug. Try waving.
Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and objects, particularly your cell phone. When you go out, be careful about touching public surfaces like doorknobs and shopping baskets—and sanitize frequently when you do. The science varies on how long COVID-19 lives on various kinds of surfaces but the risk of becoming infected from packages at the grocery store or from delivered packages is, in general, thought to be relatively low. Here’s one expert’s assessment.

LATEST ON MASKS — EFFECTIVE FRIDAY, APRIL 17: Gov. Cuomo has issued an executive order requiring all New Yorkers to wear face coverings in public when social distancing isn’t possible. The order is intended to reduce the spread of infection on public transit, in stores, on crowded sidewalks and anyplace else where you are likely to encounter others. In addition to manufactured or homemade masks, acceptable coverings include scarves and bandannas. Wearing a face covering was previously a recommendation from city, state and federal health authorities, both to reduce the chances of being infected and to protect others if you are infected and don’t know it. However, they continue to stress that a face mask does not make you invincible and is no substitute for the primary precautions: staying at home, especially if you are sick; social distancing if you must go out; washing your hands frequently. For more on face masks and instructions for making your own at home, visit this CDC page.

What to do if you were in close contact with someone who has or may have the virus

If you were in direct contact with someone who is a confirmed case or is waiting for confirmation, you should self-quarantine for 14 days from the last day of your contact. Self-quarantine means staying inside and isolating yourself as much as possible. Use food delivery services, which now offer grocery and food orders left on doorsteps to avoid physical contact between delivery workers and customers.
Other requirements of self-quarantining: No visitors, including housekeepers and dog walkers; avoid sharing household items; sanitize “high-touch” surfaces—countertops, toilets, keyboards, doorknobs—every day.
If you have symptoms during the quarantine period, seek medical advice.
If you learn of or come in contact with a colleague who suspects exposure to coronavirus or displays symptoms, ask them to contact their health care provider.

INFORMATION FOR FIELD STAFF Go back to Coronavirus Guidance page

INFORMATION FOR FIELD STAFF

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