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St. John's (18 Feb. 2021) — The Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE/NUPGE) is calling on all employers, including the provincial government, to follow the directions of the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and allow those workers who can work from home to do so.
Working from home to help contain COVID-19 spread
“We’ve seen the positive COVID-19 cases increase dramatically in recent days and we now have community spread. Dr. Fitzgerald and her team have rightfully moved quickly to introduce special measures to stop this spread, including: “if you can make arrangements to work from home you should do so”,” said Jerry Earle, NAPE President. “We have been inundated with calls from concerned members who say they are being refused the ability to work from home – including those who did so during the first wave.”
“We must work together quickly, based on the public health orders and guidance, to do what we can to mitigate the potential for spread in our workplaces and our communities,” said Earle. “Making arrangements for people to work from home, wherever possible, will go a long way to achieving that goal.”
Decisive action will speak louder than any words ever could
“The government has been telling us to follow the advice of Dr. Fitzgerald — it’s time for them to practice what they preach,” said Earle. “This is not like the first time around — we have the experience necessary to make this work very quickly.”
“I’d rather be safe than sorry and I can only hope our government and other employers in the metro region feel the same way,” said Earle. “If we are truly ‘all in this together’ then quick and decisive action will speak louder than any words ever could.”