Bulloch Co. Commissioners Adopt Amended policy for COVID-19 & Employees

Bulloch County Commissioners amended their COVID-19 policy for county employees Tuesday morning during their regularly scheduled commission meeting.

With the recent increase in COVID-19 cases throughout Bulloch County, staff recommended a new policy to address leave time use and reporting requirements.

This policy is similar to the COVID-19 policy replaces the previous policy, which expired June 30, 2021.

The highlights of this policy are:

• To authorize employees to use their accrued sick leave to provide necessary supervision or care for a quarantined dependent or themselves.
  • Specifically, an employee who has been sent home by the County and/or has not reported to work due to Contagious Symptoms and/or a Contagious Condition, or who has been quarantined, will be required to use, if available, accrued Sick Leave or Annual Leave. If paid leave is unavailable, the employee will be recorded as absent with approved unpaid leave. Any prolonged absences will be addressed in compliance with all federal and state laws and regulations, including ADA and FMLA (where a serious health condition is involved)

• Requires employees to stay home when ill or exposed and report COVID-related illness/exposure to HR.
• Requires clearance from HR before returning to work.
  • The HR Department will utilize CDC and/or DPH Guidelines, as well as internal practices, to determine the minimum absence length. At the discretion of the County, a written physician’s release may also be required.

Due to the potentially serious ramifications of non-compliance, any violation of this policy (including, but not limited to, failing to report COVID-related illness/exposure and deliberately making false reports of illness/exposure) will subject the employee to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

You can read the entire policy below.

https://www.thegeorgiavirtue.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Attachment-2206.pdf