News

A letter is being sent to all government jurisdictions today on behalf of all affected HGEA members urging department heads and supervisors to limit the physical presence of employees wherever possible to protect employees, the public and to limit the spread of COVID-19.

This should be done as quickly as possible. Employees who are able to telework should be promptly given that opportunity. 

In addition, HGEA urges the State and counties to use CARES Act funds that are already on hand to properly equip employees in order to facilitate remote work. CARES Act funds should be used to upgrade any department’s IT system that is currently not able to handle employees’ remote work. 

This pandemic is clearly not going away anytime soon and government must move quickly to protect employees and the public while still providing all of the essential services that our community depends on. 

We must adapt government to provide services remotely where possible during the pandemic.

For those vital and critical employees who must perform jobs at their worksites, HGEA demands that the employers ensure that all proper PPE, safety protocols, signage, communication and sanitation protocols be put in place.

In the case of a positive exposure in a department, HGEA demands that the employers urgently notify employees of all potential COVID-19 exposures (without disclosing the positive employee’s name), provide adequate PPE to employees who face possible exposure, and promptly implement thorough cleaning and sanitizing of all exposed areas and provide testing for exposed employees.  

This pivot must be handled promptly and properly in order to stop the spread of COVID-19 to employees, their families and the public.