Sierra Employee COVID-19 Update

February 16, 2022

Today, California and Monterey County’s mask mandate for those vaccinated against Covid-19 have been downgraded to "strongly recommended" in public indoor spaces. However, in an overabundance of caution in keeping our employees safe and due to recent Covid-19 outbreaks at our facilities, our internal mandatory mask mandate will continue for everyone regardless of vaccination status for two more weeks. Effective Wed. March 2, 2022, Sierra Instruments Mask Policy will be as follows: 
 

  • Optional Masking for individuals considered up to date* with their vaccination or booster.
    (While the mandatory mask requirement is lifted for this group of employees, we emphasize that all employees are permitted to continue to wear a mask at work)
     
  • Mandatory Masking will still be enforced for the following:
    1. Unvaccinated individuals
    2. Vaccinated individuals who are eligible for a booster but have not received the booster
    3. Vaccinated employees not considered up to date* with their vaccination or booster

 
When masks are required, masks should be always worn while working indoors, except when alone in a room, or while eating or drinking. A cubicle could be considered a “room” if it has at least 3 walls high enough to block the breathing zone of people walking by. Employees are encouraged to use a surgical mask or a filtering mask (such as a KN-95 or KF-94). If you need one, please reach out to your supervisor or HR. Employees who may have been vaccinated nearly a year ago will have significantly less protection against contracting COVID-19 and spreading it to others.  Thus, HR will continue to keep track of vaccination, booster status and whether employees are up to date so please keep sending evidence of your most recent vaccination or booster to Johanna Mendoza or Linda Le.

A few other helpful reminders:
 

  • If you are sick, DO NOT COME TO WORK
  • Please continue to wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds throughout the day
  • Please clean off your desk or workspace at the end of each day so that your worktop surfaces can be easily disinfected
  • Any business travel must be approved by your supervisor/manager and the General Manager, if the business traveler is unvaccinated a Business Visit Assessment Form is required

 
* "Up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines" is defined as "Status of a person who has received all recommended doses of a COVID-19 vaccines, including additional doses and boosters."  Below is the CDC’s recommendation for Covid-19 vaccinations and boosters.


We continue to monitor the situation and will be guided by information available from the CDC, state & local authorities, and the Berwind Covid-19 Task Force.  If you have any questions, please let your manager know so that it can be addressed through the Human Resources department.
 
Thank you. Stay safe and stay away! 

Kindly,
Linda  Le
Human Resources Manager TASi Gas Flow

 

 
 

 


January 17, 2022



Dear Sierra Employees:
 
To ensure the safety of our employees, Sierra Instruments will begin mandatory weekly testing for COVID-19 every  Monday 9am –11am.   If you are temporarily working from home, you are also required to participate in this testing or provide proof of a negative Rapid test on the same day to HR by 12pm.   There are no appointments for the testing. At your convenience, stop by the testing table outside in the back parking lot by the storage container at Building L between 9am-11am.  Please be mindful not to come out together in large groups, maintain social distancing while you are walking or waiting to be tested (6 feet apart) and always keep your masks on!  We will have someone from CHOMP who will proctor the tests and record our results.  Once you complete the test, you may return to work.  You will only be notified if you have a positive result.
 
As a friendly reminder, mandatory tests are not a substitute for the other safety practices and protocols in the Sierra Instruments’ COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. 
 
Please keep in mind the COVID-19 safety protocols in place currently:

  • It is mandatory for you to always wear a facial covering at work and socially distanced (at least 6 feet of separation).  
  • If you are returning from work after a quarantine, you MUST wear an enhanced mask (N95, KN95 or KF94) for the next 5 days at all times while indoors at Sierra Instrument
  • We will continue to screen everyone’s temperature daily as you enter the building to assure your temperature is below 100.4° and for other COVID-19 symptoms.
  • If you are sick, DO NOT COME TO WORK.
  • You must wash your hands for a minimum of 20 seconds frequently throughout the day
  • Please clean off your desk or workspace at the end of each day so that your worktop surfaces can be easily disinfected
  • Maintain social distancing of 6 feet or more.  No lunch or social gatherings during breaks.

 
If you are experiencing any symptoms at all (sore throat, cough, fever, chills, nausea, headache, etc) or have reason to believe you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive within the past 72 hours, please notify HR immediately.
 
 
Stay positive but test negative.
Let’s do this!

Linda  Le
Human Resources Manager TASi Gas Flow

 

 
 



January 5, 2022


First and foremost, thank you for your continual loyalty and trust in Sierra Instruments throughout this unprecedented pandemic. We are closely monitoring and managing the COVID-19 situation at Sierra.
 
As an essential business, Sierra continues to remain open. However, due to the increase of COVID cases at Sierra, effective immediately, employees who can perform their jobs remotely should do so and should not come into the office through January 19, 2022.

Additionally, we have put in place appropriate social distancing measures and all employees must comply with the following requirements to the greatest extent feasible:

  • Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people.
  • Do not wander out of your work area or visit other departments, except as necessary for work reasons.
  • Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or use hand sanitizer.
  • Do not shake hands with anyone.
  • Cover your coughs and sneezes with your sleeve or elbow (not your hand).
  • Regularly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces.
  • Again, employees who can perform their jobs remotely should do so and should not come into the office (January 5-19, 2022). Please see your manager to make remote work arrangements if you believe your job can be performed from home.

 

If you are sick with symptoms of fever, cough or shortness of breath, DO NOT COME TO WORK. Please call your manager and Human Resources to report the absence prior to the scheduled start time and appropriate arrangements will be made to monitor your condition. If you are sick you should stay in your residence to the extent possible except as necessary to seek medical care.

If you cannot work due to symptoms, have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, need to care for a sick family member, or provide childcare due to a child’s school or day care provider closure, you may use your sick time or other available leave for your time off. People who are concerned about coming to work because they feel that they are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 will also be accommodated at this time and should discuss the situation with their manager in consultation with Human Resources.

Please also be aware that the California Employment Development Department has indicated that many circumstances requiring time off from work or reduced hours due to COVID-19 may qualify for state unemployment compensation benefits and the waiting week for benefits has been lifted during this time. https://www.edd.ca.gov/about_edd/coronavirus-2019.htm 

We continue to monitor the situation and we will be guided by information available from the CDC and state and local governments. We will continue to keep you informed of any changes to scheduling, benefits availability or work practices based upon the most current information. If you have any questions or require any special accommodations, please let your manager know so that it can be addressed through the Human Resources department.

Regards,
Tyler Waldow
Interim General Manager 
Tasi Gas Flow