Everyone should have a work-issued laptop. We don’t expect anyone to use their personal computer. For various reasons, there might be some staff who have made arrangements with their manager to use their own personal computer. However, we strongly recommend everyone use the computer supplied to them by CCI Ottawa. It does take a little bit of time to get use to a new machine, especially if you’re moving from a desktop to a laptop. It means getting use to a new keyboard and screen size. However, CCI supplied everyone with a new computer for the following reasons: 1. To ensure client information was only located on company machines to uphold our confidentiality policy. 2. We believed it was the right thing to do. It is our responsibility to provide you with the primary tools necessary to do your work.

If you’re not using a work-issued computer, please speak with your manager. Our policy is to ensure every staff member is using a work computer.

As we return to the office, initially there will be a hybrid system in place. Staff will split their time between home and the office. You will receive more details on the process before it is implemented. Our intention is to eventually return to the office full-time.

Any changes to our temporary work-from-home arrangements will be in accordance with the Employment Standards Act, and the guidance of provincial and local health authorities. We believe the office to be safe at this time. We will only increase the number of staff in the office if we believe they will continue to be safe there.

In phases 1 and 2, there will be no clients in the building. So all bathrooms will be for staff. There are signs on all bathrooms to let people know only one person can be in a bathroom at one time. When clients do come back to the building, it will be by appointment only. They will be advised that many of the bathrooms are closed to the public. Our plan at the moment is to make the first floor bathroom a public bathroom.

We’re going to look at each case one by one and also strictly adhere to Ottawa Public Health guidelines. For example, if a child has tested positive for COVID-19, then we will be asking the parent to not come to work. If the issue is a lack of childcare or a school is closed because of a COVID outbreak, then we will again assess case by case. One thing to remember is that when employees do come back to work, it will be on a rotational basis. Only a handful of people will actually be in the office five days a week. Regardless of the circumstances, our goal is to accommodate when we can.

The employee will be directed to follow the protocols established by Ottawa Public Health (OPH).

• They will self-isolate.
• Ottawa Public Health will do contact tracing, and contact anyone who was known to be in close proximity to the person.
• The manager will inform all individuals who have worked in close proximity with the employee. The manager will inform other relevant individuals of any possible exposure. The manager will not disclose the identity of the person who has tested positive for COVID. Those individuals will be asked to contact their healthcare practitioner, self-quarantine for 14 days, and monitor for symptoms.
• The area used by the employee will be closed off and disinfected. This is in addition to required daily cleaning by all employees.
• Once the area has been disinfected, it will be reopened to use. Workers who did not have close contact with the person who is sick can return to work in the space.

Please note that there are many reasons why some people will not return to the office when others do. We won’t share these reasons with individual situations will have been assessed by management and HR.

There will not be tolerance for any form of discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected class under human rights legislation.

Yes, we hired a consultant two months ago. Karen Pogue has met with Carl and Gene several times to outline the steps we are to take in order to open safely for our staff.

Yes, every reception area has shielding. There are also signs reminding people to not enter the building if they are showing any signs of illness. There are also signs indicating traffic flow around the building.

The return-to-work plan involves four stages. The first stage is for the managers to return to work. That will happen in the coming weeks. Stage 2 is when some staff return. The staff who return will volunteer to return to work. Stage three is when we welcome clients back by appointment. Stage four is when all staff return.

We will not be bringing everyone back at the same time. The number of people in the office at any one time will be decided with safety in mind. We also know some of you have concerns about returning to the office. We are here to listen and to respond to those concerns. Please note, no date has been set. Your manager will contact you when we have decided on a date.

We have a traffic flow plan. Clients will be met at the front door of 219 Argyle. They will be greeted and asked some questions. They will then be directed to the community rooms on the first floor. If they have an appointment, the counsellor will come down to meet with them. If they need to travel to another floor, the counsellor will escort them. Traffic will go up one staircase and down the other. The elevator will be in limited use.

Staff will only have access to the kitchen one person at a time? So if you’re going for a coffee and someone is already there pouring a cup, please stand six feet away and wait for the person to leave. The same rules apply to accessing the fridge.

Yes. First, when staff return to work, not everyone will return at the same time. We are still working on a schedule but some of you might work Monday, Wednesday and Friday one week. And then Tuesday and Thursday the next week. For other staff, they will follow the reverse schedule. Our goal is to have someone at every second desk.

Yes, every employee will receive three reusable masks. Additional hand sanitizers are being installed around the building.

Yes, although we will encourage clients to arrive with their own PPE. They will be directed to use the hand sanitizer dispenser before they meet with anyone.

Yes. A company was hired to do a thorough inspection of our air ventilation system that is located on the roof. The unit is working as it should and has the capacity to circulate the air of a building twice the size of 219 Argyle Avenue. The next step for the company is to look at the actual air distribution throughout the building.

We are monitoring the situation at both houses. Early on, there was a shortage of hand sanitizer but both houses have a healthy supply of sanitizer.