Update from Director of Human Resources to staff

28 October 2020

Dear Colleagues,

I hope this finds you and your families well.

We would like to remind those staff who are considered to be at High-Risk or Very High-Risk as defined by the HSE of serious illness from COVID-19, of the measures in place for addressing such concerns whilst in the workplace.

If you are required to attend the workplace during the current COVID-19 restrictions and have concerns about doing so due to being in a High-Risk or Very High-Risk group, you should declare this to your line manager in the first instance. Line managers in receipt of such declarations should contact Employee Relations in Human Resources to go through their options to address their staff member’s concerns. In line with government advice for public sector workers, the University’s Occupational Health Service provider may be consulted to determine if a staff member falls into these categories and what additional measures, if any, should be taken.  

More information can be found in the University’s Procedure for Leave and Working Arrangements during COVID-19 Outbreak and in the Staff FAQs on the University’s dedicated COVID-19 website .

Employee Assistance Programme
We would also like to take this opportunity to remind you of the University’s Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a confidential and free counselling service for staff and their immediate families (those living at home with them who are 18 years of age and older). This facility is designed as a means for staff to resolve any personal or work-related concerns, in confidence. You can receive immediate support, advice and information on a wide range of emotional, personal or work-related issues. Telephone Counselling is available where practical and suitable to the issue. The number for this service is 1800 817 433

This service also offers a dedicated online EAP Support Hub where you can find useful information, articles, e-zines, self-assessment tools and much more to help staff manage their mental health, such as:

• Wellbeing information in response to COVID-19
• Expert information on a number of issues - learn how to deal with them and how they affect you at work.

Please click HERE to access the sign in details for the EAP Support Hub.  If you have any queries on the EAP services, please email hr@tcd.ie 

Kind Regards,
Antoinette Quinn

Director of Human Resources
Human Resources