Dear Barnard Colleagues,
This week the College initiated a Remote-Work Pilot Test. The pilot gave us the opportunity to refine all of our plans and was largely successful. We thank you for doing your part to make it work. We are particularly grateful for those staff who continue to work on campus to keep the College operating and secure. Thank you.
As you may know, on Friday Governor Cuomo announced an executive order requiring that most organizations and businesses operate with 100% of the workforce off-site, with some exceptions for essential functions and services as currently defined by the State. This means that we will continue with our remote plans for the foreseeable future. However staff who perform and support essential services, including remote education, security, and property maintenance will continue to be on campus. The essential functions and services are defined by the guidance from the state, and may be updated from time to time. The Executive Order and the most recent guidance from the state can be found on governor.ny.gov. If you have questions about your role or responsibilities, please reach out to your manager as soon as possible.
The Governor also instituted “Matilda’s Law,” which includes various protections for vulnerable populations. As per Matilda’s Law, no employees aged 70 or older should report to work on-site. Please advise your manager if you fall into this category.
For those that are working remotely, we have gathered resources to assist you as you navigate this new working environment, including tips for remote work and communication, support for managers, and wellness resources that will be updated regularly. Please login to my.barnard.edu and you will see the resources and links listed under “Latest News” on the left side of the home page.
For those staff who remain on-site, we thank you for your continued dedication to the College during this challenging time. A few additional items for on-site staff: First, we know food options around campus are limited and want to let you know that we are arranging for meals to be provided to you; further information on this will come from your managers early next week. Second, please remember to bring your Barnard identification to work each day. Third, the College can provide you with a letter verifying your essential work on campus if requested. Finally, a reminder that the wellness resources listed on the home page at my.barnard.edu are available for all staff.
Feel free to contact us should you have any questions or concerns, including how you are affected by the new Executive Order, we can be reached at hr@barnard.edu. You can also reach out to your Human Resources generalist for guidance. We will continue to update you regularly, and respond as quickly as possible to your questions and concerns.
Please also continue to visit the College’s COVID-19 dedicated website and the specific Staff FAQs for the most up-to-date information.
Throughout this crisis, the Barnard faculty and staff have demonstrated the resilience that is one of the College's most important values. We appreciate your willingness to be flexible, patient, and open to new ways of working and communicating. On behalf of the College, we thank you for your hard work and continued commitment to our truly singular Barnard community.
Eileen Di Benedetto
Interim Chief Financial Officer & VP of Finance
Catherine Geddis
VP of Human Resources