Working at NBSS

We feel confident in our ability to provide a health, safe, and productive environment for everyone at NBSS. The preliminary guidelines are provided below, and more information can be found on our Health & Safety page.

• Wearing masks at all times while in the building
• Hand washing protocols
• Daily self-reporting on symptoms and temperature
• New work habits (limiting shared tools and space, cleaning, limited gathering, etc.)
• Staff may be on rotating schedules or working from home where possible and appropriate.
• For the building, this includes configuring space and re-assigning space to allow 6 feet of distance between people; designated bathrooms, stairwells, rooms, etc. in order to keep people limited to small groups; directional pathways through the building
• Increased professional cleaning, among other measures.
• Building is restricted to faculty, students and staff only; we are not planning for public events or visits.

If a member of the community contracts COVID-19, we’ll follow the protocols recommended by the CDC and health community. This may include closing a program for a period of time, doing contact tracing, quarantining members of the community, and other responses. While we’ll have a central protocol in place, each situation will also require its own response.

We will communicate any school closure—as well as the reason and plans for reopening— through email and website primarily, and possibly through social media and text as well. Remember to bookmark this page and check back often for updates.

As in all cases when you are experiencing symptoms of a contagious illness, you should not report to work or school. In such an event, please take good care of yourself, let your supervisor know you'll be out, and follow the advice of your medical professional.

NBSS has implemented a Temporary Covid-19 Sick Time Policy, which provides additional days. We will work with you to find ways to make up for any missed work. Since every situation will be different, you and your supervisor will work together on this plan. The first priority is your health.

We ask that you please complete this confidential form letting us know of your situation so we can stay informed.

Please follow the recommendations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Each are excellent websites with the latest information.

• If you have had prolonged face-to-face contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, or are under care for suspected exposure to COVID-19, you are expected to self-isolate for 14 days.
• If you are worried that you may have been exposed through contact with a person whom you suspect might have been exposed to COVID-19, it would be wise to self-isolate until a medical provider has determined the significance of the contact.

Self-isolate means you should stay home. Do not go to work, classes, events, other social gatherings. To the extent possible, do not use public transportation (airplanes, buses, trains) or ride-shares until you are told it is safe to return to normal activities by your medical provider.

For either scenario above, students, faculty, and staff should please complete this confidential form so we can stay informed. We can then talk through any special steps or accommodations needed to keep our community health

Please contact your supervisor. As each situation will be different, they will work with you on leave options, and any special steps or accommodations needed to keep our community healthy. Not that should you become ill, NBSS has implemented a Temporary Covid-19 Sick Time Policy, which provides additional days.

Please refer to the question here about self-isolation and exposure, and as always, seek prompt medical evaluation should you have any concerns or symptoms.

The health and well-being of NBSS employees is paramount during this uncertain time of COVID-19. It is important that people stay home if they are sick, and help maintain the health of our entire community—NBSS, Boston, and beyond. To that end, the following addendum to our Sick Leave Policy is in effect through July 31, 2020.

Per current policies, all regular full time employees are eligible for twelve (12) Sick Days at their regular rate of pay per fiscal year. Our policy also states, “up to five (5) days may be used for care of an immediate family member who is ill.”

Now, through July 31, 2020, the following is a policy addendum:

• All regular employees are advanced an additional five (5) days of Sick Time.
• Restrictions on how sick time is used is suspended. Sick Days may be used for both personal illness and the care of family members who may be ill.

• If an employee is self-isolating but can work from home, they will be paid their normal rate. Always, employees should let their supervisor know as soon as possible in advance.
• If the School closes, regular employees are paid their normal rate. These days do not count against their Sick Time or Vacation bank.

Yes, if you are self-isolating but not actively sick, you are expected to work from home. Please discuss options with your supervisor, including remote access, conference calls, etc.

Work that cannot be done remotely will be addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Faculty and instructors should privately check in with the student exhibiting illness, and please ask them to leave class and make arrangements to see a medical professional. We ask that anyone exhibiting serious illness during this time to please complete this confidential form letting us know of their situation so we can stay informed.

NBSS has cancelled all work-related travel at this time, and we strongly encourage students, faculty, and staff to postpone any non-essential travel, espcially to areas of high risk for COVID-19. In order to keep our community healthy and safe, we ask the following:

• If you have traveled to areas with higher risks for the disease recently (or plan to), please let your instructor or supervisor know. We can then talk through any special steps or accommodations needed to keep our community healthy.
• If you have any international travel planned, please let your instructor or supervisor know.
• We urge students, staff, and faculty to use their best judgement for any personal travel plans.
• To the extent possible, do not use public transportation (airplanes, buses, trains) or ride-shares as this may increase your risk of exposure to COVID-19.

We ask that you please complete this confidential form letting us know of your international travel or trip to a high risk area so we can stay informed.

Unfortunately, we are able to provide parking for only a very limited number of employees. No one should use the driveway or lot without explicit authorization from Ralph Henry, Director of Facilities.

Here is a list of parking rates for nearby garages which may be helpful.