COVID-19 Temporary Relaxation of Background Check Policy
Dear Rutgers Colleagues:
As part of University Human Resources’ continued efforts to provide employees information and guidance during this time of uncertainty, we would like to share with you the new COVID-19 Telecommuting and Wellness website. This site provides guidelines and resources to help employees effectively manage working remotely and the stress that may come along with it. These resources focus on supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of our employees as they continue to adjust to workplace and life changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wellness Resources
COVID-19 is impacting every aspect of our lives in ways we could not have imagined just a few short weeks ago. Students and faculty have had to quickly transition to remote learning, children are home and parents are balancing childcare, instructional support, and work obligations, and thousands of staff employees have had to adjust to working remotely on a full time basis. At the same time, we are being overwhelmed by the news and updates on the progression of the pandemic, and so many of us have been impacted by COVID-19, either personally, through a family member, colleague, or friend. We must, at this time, be especially mindful of our overall health and wellbeing. To this end, we have developed the COVID-19 Telecommuting and Wellness website. Please take the time to access tips and tools to support you in the following areas:
- Telecommuting with Family and Children – Being together in close quarters, even with loved ones, can be stressful. Use these tools to help you deal with this change in your work environment.
- Physical Wellness – Keeping your body moving and being physically fit is not only a great distraction but improves your overall health at the same time. Take advantage of these tips and tools designed to keep you healthy and fit while working from home.
- Mental Wellness – Coping with stress can help make you, your family, and your community stronger. Utilize these resources to help you destress and better manage these difficult times.
- Staying at Home – Staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected with friends and colleagues and make good use of your time. These resources can help you stay productive and motivated.
Working Virtually
Reminder: For each approved telecommuting arrangement, a COVID-19 Telecommuting Plan and Acknowledgement Form must be completed and signed by the employee and approved and signed by the supervisor. Once the employee and supervisor have virtually signed the agreement, a PDF copy of the completed form will be automatically emailed to the employee, supervisor, and designated HR contact. The form is located on the COVID-19 Telecommuting website.
As telecommuting arrangements are new to many of us, UHR has made available several resources to provide guidance and assistance for working virtually.
If you’re finding it difficult to manage your time now that you are working remotely, log into a LinkedIn Learning module, like Time Management: Working From Home, and watch a short video on how to best manage your time and limit distractions. You can access the full LinkedIn Learning library of virtual working resources on the Working Virtually page of the site.
Staying connected with your team and supervisor while telecommuting can be made easy by using collaboration tools like Office 365, Skype for Business, or WebEx. We’ve provided guidance around how to access and best use these tools, and a number of others, at the COVID-19 Telecommuting and Wellness site.
Please check the site often to stay up to date with the latest UHR COVID-19 communications and guidance and to access new resources which are being added daily to support our employees throughout these challenging times.
Sincerely,
Vivian Fernández
Senior Vice President for Human Resources & Organizational Effectiveness