Intellectual Property Services COVID Response Information

Office Policies/Procedures

• Toggle Item

  If You're Sick...

  We want you to stay home!

  If you feel well enough, you can get permission from your supervisor to work from home if you aren't already doing so.

  Please become familiar with BYU guidelines for getting tested for COVID and reporting a positive infection.

  COVID-19 CASE MANAGEMENT

• Toggle Item

  Mask policy

  All BYU guidelines will be followed per campus mask policy.

  In addition:
  

  • Receptionists must wear a mask when a client enters the office
    
    • The reception desks meet the BYU requirements for not wearing masks in cubicles (that's what the black divider is for)
  • While visiting another office in our suite, the visiting employee must wear a mask, including the Creative Works stock room
  • Outside of office or cubicle spaces, masks must be worn
• Toggle Item

  Sanitizing
  • If sharing a desk space (like the receptionists) the protocol is to sanitize your area (chair, desk, and keyboard) with provided Clorox wipes BEFORE you begin working
  • Hand sanitizer stations are located on top of the microwave, on the free food cabinet, at the front reception desk and in the TTO student area
  • The printer, water cooler, microwave, and fridge in the student workroom gets wiped down once a day. Please be aware that you should probably use hand sanitizer after using these items, just to be on the safe side.
• Toggle Item

  Work Stations
  • Work stations that have been taped off are to provide physical distancing
  • Each work station has to be scheduled for use so that we can properly maintain physical distancing
• Toggle Item

  Library Information
  • Our office will be accessible, as usual, whenever the Library is open. Daily Library hours are listed on their homepage and further details can be found by clicking on the daily hours link.
  • The door to our office will be unlocked from 9 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday. Card access is available outside those hours whenever the Library is open.
  • PLEASE NOTE: although you may be in the IPS office after our regular business hours, you MUST exit the Library BEFORE it closes. No mercy on this one!
  • From more information about Library policy to which we are also subject, visit this Daily Universe article.
• Toggle Item

  If a person refuses to wear a mask...

  These guidelines have been provided by the University and are formulated specifically for permanent employees. We do not expect our students to deal with visitors who won't wear a mask. We do expect student employees to ask a permanent employee to handle the situation if, after requesting once, the visitor refuses to comply.

  First and foremost start with a conversation.  Do not call the Honor Code Office or University Police. If an individual refuses to comply follow the steps below:

  Face shields worn in lieu of face masks must be approved by the dean.  If a faculty member refuses to wear a face mask or face shield (as approved by dean) after being asked to do so, work with the individual listed in the following order until the faculty member complies with regulations:
  

  1. Department chair
  2. Dean
  3. Hyeyoung Bang-Thompson
  4. Tom Patterson

  If a student refuses to wear a face mask after being asked to:
  

  1. If the student has a disability, they make seek an accommodation from the Accessibility Center
  2. If the student refuses to comply and does not have an accommodation, contact the Dean of Students office who may prepare a report for the Disruptive Student Committee

  If a staff or administrative employee refuses to wear a face mask after being asked to do so:
  

  1. Supervisors should contact their area HR consultants (https://hrs.byu.edu/area-hr-consultants)

  If a student asks that a faculty member wear a face shield instead of a face mask because they read lips:
  

  1. Student needs to work with Accessibility Center to verify that an accommodation needs to be made
  2. Faculty should notify their dean that they will be wearing face shield to accommodate a verified student need. After accommodation is verified, the faculty member may wear a face shield during the activity when lip-reading is necessary and should wear face mask at all other times. 

  Refusal to wear a mask is a health and safety issue--DO NOT call the Honor Code Office.  DO NOT call University Police unless an individual becomes violent or physical and is a threat to public safety.