Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Important info for those currently on assignment or deployed on a project:

Q: What if I test positive for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Do not report to work if you are on an assignment or project. Call 1.855.744.6947 immediately and let us know you have tested positive for COVID-19, and you will receive further guidance. In Canada, contact the Canadian Workers Compensation Board Review or your Robert Half office.

Contact your talent solutions professional, and they will communicate with the client directly.

Q: What if I may have been exposed at my worksite to someone who tested positive for COVID-19?

Please follow the client’s protocol and direction and call Customer Service at 1.855.744.6947 immediately and you’ll be given further guidance.

Q: What if I feel sick? What should I do?

Your health and wellbeing are of the utmost importance. Contact your local Robert Half office or talent solutions professional if you are sick, do not report to work, or if at work, go home immediately. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, do not contact your talent solutions professional instead contact customer service immediately at 1.855.744.6947 for further guidance. Your talent solutions professional will inform the client about your availability and when you are able to return to work.

Q: What if the client’s worksite where I work closes?

Contact your local Robert Half office or talent solutions professional right away and let them know the client has decided to close their office(s) for a period of time. Your talent solutions professional will work with the client to determine if your work can be done remotely and if you can do so. If remote working is not possible, your assignment or project may end; often this is at the client’s discretion. We will do our best to find another opportunity for you to continue working.

Q: Will I get paid if I am home sick?

If you are on active assignment and become sick, you will be paid accrued sick leave if you are in a locality with statutory sick leave. Anything beyond accrued sick leave is time off without pay. If you have accrued sick leave available, eligible candidates can access their balance on the Sick Pay Timesheet/History link from their My Home page in the Online Time Reporting and Approval System. Contact 1.888.744.9202 with any additional questions.

Q: What if my child’s daycare or school is shut down due to potential Coronavirus exposure?

Explore if you have alternate childcare options. If none are available, contact your local Robert Half office or talent solutions professional, and they can work with the client to determine if any of the work can be done remotely. If not, your assignment may end; often this is at the client’s discretion. We will work with you to find another assignment or project, based on your availability. You may be eligible for paid leave if your local jurisdiction provides it for this purpose. Eligible candidates can access information on the Sick Pay Timesheet/History link from their My Home page in the Online Time Reporting and Approval System. Contact 1.888.744.9202 with any questions.

Q: What if events related to COVID-19 have impacted my employment and I need to contact my local unemployment office?

If your employment has been impacted by events related to COVID-19, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. For helpful information and to begin the filing process, visit the Find My State Unemployment website. When filing, you will need, at a minimum, the following information:

• Name
• SSN
• First day worked (on most recent assignment)
• Last day worked (in the office or remote)
• Reason for Separation (RFS) - (e.g. Laid off due to COVID-19 shutdown, Temporarily Laid off due to COVID-19, etc.)

Additionally, you may be eligible for Disability or Paid Family Leave benefits if you live in some states such as: CA, HI, NY, NJ, RI, PR, or WA.

We encourage you to begin the filing process as soon as there is a change to your employment.

Q: What if the client asks me to travel domestically for my assignment?

If a business trip requires you to travel well beyond your regular daily commute, requires air-travel, an overnight stay or extended travel on mass-transit, and you are not comfortable doing so, please contact us. Inform your local Robert Half office or talent solutions professional that you have been asked to travel and you do not feel comfortable doing so. We will work with the client regarding your concerns.

Q: What if I’ve taken a personal trip or vacation and traveled to or from another country, should I inform Robert Half or the client?

If you traveled to a country without CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) or WHO (World Health Organization) travel restrictions, and you are not experiencing any illness or symptoms, you are not required to communicate information about your travel.

If you’ve recently visited a country or area under travel restriction from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization, contact your Robert Half office or talent solutions professional for further guidance before returning to work.

Q: What protective measures can I take to prevent possible contraction of COVID-19?

Follow the guidelines outlined on the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) that advises such measures as:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze by either sneezing into your elbow or with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. For further guidance on handwashing: https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/
• It is also a good idea to avoid close contact with people in a business setting, e.g., shaking hands. You may inform the individual that while you respect business protocol, you think it is a good idea to avoid hand shaking while this outbreak is happening.

During this challenging time we strongly encourage you to sign up for direct deposit and electronic pay stubs in our Time Reporting and Approval system to help expedite payroll processing (Excludes Independent Contractors).