Speak up Be heard: Health and safety

I'm wondering ASU will update the Health Check questions and symptoms to better reflect those typical of omicron, especially among the vaccinated. If the goal is to keep infectious people from coming to campus, the questions need to be updated to reflect changes in symptoms. Hope that is coming soon!

I was honestly hurt when I watched President Crow's video re: spring 2022 COVID measures (or non-measures). The only updates we are making to deal with omicron are bringing back health checks? I do not understand how there is not AT LEAST a full indoor mask mandate. Social distance of 6' is pretty meaningless when dealing with an airborne disease that's much more contagious than previous iterations. Further, how is the university not providing all employees and students with high-quality masks?
Health professionals have been clear that cloth masks are not good enough for omicron. When the only science the President mentioned is the CDC's new guidance to get our butts back in chairs faster after we're sick, it doesn't make me feel appreciated or cared for. Once again, I'm left feeling incredibly disappointed by ASU's lack of empathy and care for the people who work here.

I am concerned about health and wellness now that my team has had to return to the office 5 days a week. I was relieved to see that masks would be strongly recommended again, but many people (including leadership) in my office are not wearing them. We were told to "stay home if we are sick, just like always," when it's pretty well-known that most people feel obligated (not just in my office, but across campus) to go to work if you "just have a cold." One woman in my office today was sniffling and finally said, "Oh, I guess I should put my mask on. I'm all stuffed up." We were forced to sit in a very small meeting room together and now I am wondering if I need to go get a COVID test in a few days since she was maskless and sniffling two feet from me during the meeting. I've been vaccinated, but the breakthrough cases are concerning. Why are some offices allowed to continue to work from home at least part-time when others are not? My previous unit is a student-facing advising team going into the office 3 days a week. I love my team, but I don't understand the dissonance (masks required, but they aren't wearing them. Work from home is not allowed by president Crow, yet I see other units doing it, etc.) and don't feel safe (physically) or supported to be able to speak up to leadership there due to the confusing messaging.

I recently tried to use the ASU Employee Assistance Program to get some mental health help. However, I'm an out-of-state employee and was told that because of this I do not qualify for these services based on my geography. I am in grave need of mental health help at the moment and am truly upset that these University services are not equitably distributed to employees serving ASU outside of Arizona.