Wednesday, September 9, 2020
Good morning IDHS Staff,
I hope you enjoyed a restorative Labor Day. As we welcome the fall, another season into our "new normal," I wanted to reach out with some reminders about the workplace that remain important to IDHS in our new environment.
As has always been the case, respect for each other's time, and space is core to our operation, regardless of whether you are an employee working on-site or remotely. To ensure a safe, harmonious work experience, I want to remind staff of the following guidelines:
- Demonstrate mutual respect for your colleagues. Please maintain a respectful, professional, open, and thoughtful attitude while working.
- Respect people's time. If you know that you will be late or unable to make an appointment with a colleague, please let them know in advance.
- Maintain professional appearance. Employees are expected to dress during work hours in a manner that is considered appropriate for the duties they perform and are expected to exercise reasonable judgement when selecting clothing to wear while representing IDHS. Employees should also practice good hygiene while on duty.
- Be mindful of others' space. Whether you are working from home or in the office, please ensure that your workplace is free of distractions. Maintain a clean work environment, control loud noises or sounds, and do not introduce office distractions unnecessarily (including bringing your pet into the office).
- If you are sick, stay home. It is critical to avoid coming into an office with a potential illness that can infect those around you. This is particularly important now as we are working to control the spread of COVID-19.
Of course, in this COVID-19 environment, it is critical that staff who are returning to the worksite also practice the following to keep each other healthy.
- Avoid close contact. Maintain 6 ft. distance between yourself and other people.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a face covering.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
- Monitor your health daily and be alert for COVID-19 symptoms.
- Do not work if you are sick.
- Wash your hands.
I am extremely grateful for the dedication IDHS staff have demonstrated throughout the pandemic. As we continue to weather this, let's remain mindful of each other and proudly represent the State of Illinois.
Sincerely,
Grace
Grace B. Hou
Secretary, IDHS
