COVID-19 Employee Testing Policy

Policy Statement

Applies to

All employees (faculty, staff, researchers, post-docs, and student employees).

Purpose

To protect the health and safety of the Dartmouth community by monitoring potential instances of COVID-19 infection and to utilize that information to reduce transmission.

Policy Statement

All employees who are working on site or approved to return to on-site work are required to undergo COVID-19 testing at times and dates established by Dartmouth, when requested.

Testing is only one method of addressing the risk of COVID-19 transmission.  All employees who are working on site or approved to return to on site work are also expected to adhere continually to all other published policies regarding the reduction of COVID-19 transmission such as, but not limited to, hand washing, wearing a mask and following isolation and quarantine instructions. An employee with a negative test result must continue to adhere to all safety policies and procedures. An employee with a positive test result must follow all applicable Dartmouth protocols and New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) requirements, as well as their own state health department requirements if they are not NH residents. 

Procedures

• Testing may either be administered by a healthcare provider or self-administered. Testing may occur prior to an employee's return to work on site, as a condition of the employee's continued work on campus, and/or at any other time at the sole discretion of Dartmouth. 
• Testing results will be held confidential by Dartmouth except as required to be disclosed by law (e.g., with the applicable public health authority). Information about an employee who tests positive for COVID-19 may otherwise only be disclosed to others where necessary in accordance with applicable law.
• Employee testing requirements will be applied in a consistent, non-discriminatory manner in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and state and federal guidelines.
• Employee test results will not be included in an employee's personnel file.
• Failure to comply with testing requirements will disqualify an employee from working on site, is considered insubordination, will constitute an unexcused absence and, and may subject an employee to discipline, up to and including termination of employment.
• This policy applies only to requests by Dartmouth for an employee to undergo testing as part of COVID-19 mitigation. All individuals who have concerns about their own health or the health of a member of their household should contact their primary care provider.

Duration

This policy will be in effect until further notice.