Guide to Return to the Workplace

As we continue planning a phased expansion of on-site operations later next month, we have developed a Guide for the Return to the Workplace to assist school and department leaders in considering guidelines to ensure a safe working environment.

The document will be one that is updated over time as conditions change and we learn more about how to best address these issues through ongoing analysis, consultation with our peers, and emergence of best practices across the country.

Coordinators have been identified by each University dean and vice president to lead the efforts within their respective areas using the policies and protocols in the guide. These coordinators will take the lead in their respective areas to identify appropriate staffing models to reduce population density in buildings, develop social distancing plans inside facilities, and coordinate requests for masks and other resources.

Please take time to review the guide to help address potential questions and concerns among staff and reinforce the steps being taken to provide a safe working environment. Duke University is taking a slow and deliberate approach to expanding operations and staffing so that we might learn from them before taking broader actions. As a result, most of the University’s workforce will continue to work remotely for the immediate future.