Information meeting IMB
March 31 th 2020
Welcome to our first electronic information meeting (“allmøte»)!
Practical information:
• You are «muted upon entry», your microphone are turned off
• Please keep your mic on «mute» through out the meeting
• Mic-symbol left corner
Home office
Home labs
Digital teaching
LSB + 1
Critial functions in the building
Comparative medicine
Saima receives all the packages
Digital user support IT
Thanks for ….
community spirit «dugnadsånd»
positivity flexibility
willingness to change solution oriented
creativity
commitment
Future…important to
keep up the courage get the job done see each other
keep your motivation up
take care of each other
Information, questions and some answers
• Access to the building
• Research
• Personal
• Economy
• Travel
More questions?
Use the chat-function!
• We will save the questions and try to answer
later what we can't answer today
Keep updated!
• Questions and answers about the coronavirus situation are continuously updated:
https://www.uio.no/english/about/hse/coronavirus/questions-and- answers-about-the-coronavirus.html
• MED news online: https://www.uio.no/english/for- employees/unitpages/med/news/corona/
• Services offered at IMB while UiO is closed:
https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/about/news-and-
events/news/2020/services-imb-corona.html
Access to the building
• We should establish home offices (when ever possible!!)
• Exemption – critical functions
• Life and death
• Environmental damage
• Loss of significant material value, including scientific infrastructure
• Loss of significant intangible assets, including research results
• Significant negative consequences for our employees, including payroll and
sick leave
Employees dependent of access to lab and infrastructure
• We share your concerns for our employees
dependent of the «physical» work space - labs, OUS-PC, workshop etc.
• We do not know much. But we know that is going to be discussed
As soon as we know, you will know!
• Norwegian Research Council (NRC): May 20, 2020 kl. 13.00. See more Forskningsrådets spørsmål og svar-nettside om koronaviruset (forskningsradet.no).
• EU:Several changes, more information on Funding & Tenter Portal (ec.europa.eu)(engelsk).
• Cancer society: Several changes
https://nettsoknad.kreftforeningen.no/#faq/Info_corona
• Other: See websites for information
Deadline – application for research
funding
On-going research projects
• PIs and partners – should continuously consider consequences of the situation for the project
• The Covid-19 situation may in specific situation be looked upon as force majeure – «extraordinary event beyond reasonable control”
• Useful information to PIs on: https://www.uio.no/english/for-
employees/support/research/efp-corona.html
University employees are state employees
• There is no access to layoffs in the state according to current regulations, but if needed, employees can be redeployed to other tasks.
• Ordinary salaries will still be paid.
• Many of you have concerns about delays in your work, especially if
you work in the lab or with clinical data, whether you will be able to
finish your work in time, and the terms of your contract on external
funding.
Sick leave
• Employees who must be absent from work due to COVID-19, or suspicion of such illness, are entitled to sickness benefits
• UiO has extended the self-certification system to 16 days, as the burden on the health care system, physicians and GPs these days is great and it may take time to contact a physician by telephone. If you are absent for a longer period, you report this in the usual way and submit a medical certificate that you may receive via telephone.
• Contact your leader or ask the HR Section for assistance
At home with children because of closed kindergartens and schools
• Employees must consider whether you can combine home office with supervising children, depending on your situation
• Parents who have to stay home with children due to closed schools and
kindergartens can use their family care leave days. Their quota for family care days doubled. Doubled quotas also apply to parents who already have an
extended quota. The scheme applies in general throughout 2020, and not only to absence due to COVID-19.
• If the quota for care days is exhausted, the employer will grant compassionate leave with pay.
• Extension is granted to all PhD and postdoctoral fellows who are absent for 10
Vacation
• If you are considering to change your vacation plans, please contact your leader.
• If both parties agree that a change is benefitual, you can change vacations previously granted.
• Your employer might find it difficult to make changes that might affect work when we get back to normal. If you have questions or cannot find a solution together, please contact the HR
Section for assistance.
Travels
• The Norwegian government discourage all travels unless
absolutely necessary. The current advice lasts until April 14th and might be prolonged,
• Any traveler from other countries must go in 14 days quarantine upon arrival in Norway. Please notify your leader.
• Details about how to relate to cancelled travels and
arrangements is to be found on the University web pages with
Questions and answers about the corona situation
Are you an international employees and need extra support?
• Many internationals do not have a broad network in Norway, and we ask all leaders and colleagues to offer support to those who might need it. Many might feel concern, both for their own situation and for their families. Don’t be afraid to ask for support!
• Make sure you know who to contact should you get sick and need help. Make a plan with your leader or contact the HR Section
• If you have a foreign citizenship and consider returning to your homeland,
please consult your leader and thegovernment in your own country. Don’t make qucik decisions, consider the consequences first.
• UiO’s internatinal support office ISMO is available for all international employees and guest researchers. Please see
Are you a leader with international employees or employees working abroad?
• If you are a leader and have questions about an international employee, upcoming contracts or employees working abroad, please contact the HR Section
• UiO’s internatinal support office ISMO is available also for employers. Please see https://www.uio.no/english/about/jobs/ismo/
Close collaboration with the Unions
• The Union representatives work closely with the Universtity management in finding solutions for our employees
• The local salary negotiations for all employees ordinarily held each
autumn, are postponed until later this year
IMB will hold elections for Head of Institute this autumn
• The Institute will hold an election for Head of Institute for the period
2021-2024 this autumn. Details will follow.
Who can I talk to?
• Contact your leader, the HR Section or your local HSE safety representative if you have concerns about something:
– https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/about/organization/adm/personell/index.html – https://www.med.uio.no/imb/english/about/hse/work-environment/organisation-
roles/safety-representatives.html
• The Occupational Health Service Unit at the University offers assistance on telephone, FaceTime or digital meetings. All conversations are confidential.
– https://www.uio.no/english/about/organisation/los/ebht/index.html
What happens after April 14th?
• We do not know yet…
• New signals from the Government April 8th at the latest
• We’ll let you know as soon as we know!
For questions regarding the corona situation, please use
[email protected]
Useful tips for working from home
• Structure your day, and set goals for yourself
• Maintain a routine for lunch break and give yourself small breaks during the day
• Create digital social arenas with your colleagues and support each other
• Try to focus on opportunities rather than obstacles – what may this situation give you?
Useful tips for physical excercise in daily work from the Occupational Unit on:
https://www.uio.no/english/for-employees/employment/welfare/exercise/break- exercises/index.html /