Sept. 17, 2009

Pandemic planning, answers to questions
During the last few weeks, there have been a number of phone calls and e-mails from MAPE-represented state employees about agency notifications regarding pandemic planning. These notifications have addressed reporting all certifications and/or licensure held by employees. The notification also addressed replying to a survey that is all on the SEMA 4 site or on the employee self service site. Much of this planning is a direct result of past labor/management meetings that involved all of the unions to bring about actions to deal with mass absences should any pandemic occur.

Certification and Licensure: Many questions have come in about this request with concerns about reporting all of the licensures and/or certifications. 

• Some employees report that although they may hold a certain license or certification they don’t necessarily feel comfortable with that work because they have not done it for some time.
• MAPE recommends that one report only those licenses or certifications that are job related or that one feels comfortable performing.

Survey: 

• Employees who have called the MAPE office or talked to stewards and business agents about this have expressed being unclear about whether this survey is voluntary or mandatory. 
• MAPE has taken the position that it is voluntary unless one is ordered to complete the survey. Of course, under those circumstances one should comply.
• MAPE also wants to make it clear that items filled in on a survey do not constitute any type of contract regarding when one may or may not be at work or any other scenario that is described within the survey. The official MAPE contract will be applied to whatever the circumstances are at the time any pandemic issues need to be addressed.

Your questions related to any pandemic or related information gathering within the agencies: Employees with questions about any of these topics should contact their union stewards or business agents for review and answers.