New on-site work policies in response to Gov. Baker's emergency order

To all staff, faculty, and post-docs,

Per Governor Charlie Baker’s emergency order, issued today (Monday, March 23), many businesses and organizations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts must close their physical workspaces and facilities to workers, customers, and the public from noon tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24, through noon on Tuesday, April 7.

Because MIT has already scaled back educational, business, and research operations on campus, we are already in compliance with much of this order. The Institute has established a process for rigorous review and approval of access to MIT campus buildings. This process identifies designated personnel that MIT considers minimally necessary to maintain safe and secure operation, and is consistent with the March 23 emergency order.

These designated personnel include:

• Critical research, including Covid-19 research and animal care;
• MIT leadership operations;
• Educational continuity for remote learning; residential population services for students and staff housed on campus;
• Essential campus services, including MIT Police, MIT Medical, MIT Facilities staff; and
• Vendors of critical services and shipments, including materials required for safe operation of core building functions.

If there are graduate students who fall into any of these categories, we ask that this message please be shared with them. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind all members of the MIT community that unless you have been specifically informed that you are required to be physically present on-site to perform your work, you should not come to campus. If you are unsure whether you are required to report to campus for work, please check with your manager, supervisor, or DLC leadership.

Updated pay policies were posted on March 23 (Touchstone login required); any future changes in pay policies will also be posted on the HR Covid-19 website. I encourage you to read the policies in full.

We appreciate the patience and understanding of the community as we work to adjust to these changes. Please contact your manager, supervisor, or DLC leadership if you have questions. You may also reach out to HR directly at covid-hr@mit.edu; we will reply as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

Ramona Allen
Vice President for Human Resources