This guide aims to assist you to safely transition back into the workplace if you have been working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It addresses the following areas:
This document is designed as a guide only and covers commonly occurring workplace scenarios. If you require support to address specific situations not covered by this guide, please see the ‘Advice and Support’ section in this document.
This guide is based on the Five Core Principles:
Further detail on these principles is outlined in the sections below (where required).
These principles are also applicable to employees that have been working on-site throughout the pandemic.
If you are a higher risk employee (i.e. you are at higher risk of serious illness should you contract COVID-19), you should discuss your return to work plan with your manager. Resources are available on the Higher Risk Employees page.
COVID-19 Employee Enquiries can also be emailed to support you in this process.
Your manager will be undertaking a Work Area Assessment before your return. This is to ensure that your work area is safe and any necessary changes can be put into place before you return to your work area.
There are three key actions that you must complete to prepare for your return to work:
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Please return to work on the date and time agreed with your manager. If you need to change your return to work plan, discuss this with your manager as it may have an impact on the return to work plan for others in your team.
On your first day back in your work area, arrange a time with your manager (or their delegate) to complete the Returning to the Workplace Safely Employee Checklist. This can be found in Appendix 2.
People and Culture may also support you with this transition.
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You must not come into work if you are unwell, even with mild illness. If you present to work with illness, you will be sent home immediately.
If you have symptoms that meet the current DHHS testing criteria you should present to a Screening Clinic and self-isolate as soon as possible.
If you are well enough to work from home, and your job enables you to do so, this may be an option, subject to manager approval. Otherwise, you must take sick leave as per the usual process.
Call the Monash Health Employee Hotline Number on 9594 5815 (external) or extension 45815 (internal) if further advice is needed.
If you are screened for COVID-19, you must advise your manager of the result as soon as possible so they can take appropriate action, if required.
Hand hygiene is about cleaning your hands frequently and appropriately after contact with objects using either hand sanitiser or soap and water. Ensure the entirety of your hands (palms, fingers and back of hands) are covered with hand sanitiser or soap and water. There are posters available from health.vic and displayed across Monash Health with the steps outlined on how to wash your hands.
Reducing the transmission of COVID-19 is assisted by good personal hygiene which includes:
Guidance regarding principles and products is available in Returning to the Workplace Safely – Cleaning your workstation. As a general rule, at the start and end of every day, you must wipe down your desk, keyboard, devices, mouse, screen and any other surface you have contact with during your workday. Hot desks must be cleaned before and after each use. Hand hygiene is essential before and after cleaning your workstation. It is also required that you log cleaning the Cleaning Record Sheet available in the aforementioned documentation.
Your manager should be your first contact for planning your return to the workplace or regarding any concerns you have once you have returned.
You can also discuss any general workplace issues with your local Health and Safety Representative or People and Culture Business Partner. Please contact the OH&S Advice Line on 9594 6140 if further advice is needed.
Individual and team support resources are on the Monash Health COVID-19 Website Health and Wellbeing page.
Infection Prevention can assist with issues related to cleaning regimes.