COVID-19 Policy (NZ)

What Sidekicker is doing in response to COVID-19 and your responsibilities as a Sidekick

Updated over a week ago

This article contains information and links to Government sources on the topic of COVID-19, including:

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause respiratory infections. These can range from the common cold to more serious diseases.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. However, some will become seriously ill and require medical attention.

What are the symptoms associated with COVID-19?

While symptoms will vary, especially between variants, some symptoms known to be associated with COVID-19 include:

  • Fever

  • Coughing

  • Sore throat

  • Shortness of breath

  • Runny nose

  • Fatigue

  • Body aches

  • Headaches

  • Loss of sense of smell

  • Altered sense of taste

Those with even the mildest of symptoms should get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until they receive a negative test result, or until advised by health authorities.

How you can be exposed to COVID-19

The COVID-19 virus is most commonly spread through contact with an infectious person. When the contact occurs, the risk of transmission is assessed based on the nature of the contact made.
Please check the Ministry of Health advice for the most up-to-date information.

When are you required to get tested?

Testing requirements can change over time, so please ensure you refer to the official COVID-19 Government website for the most up-to-date information, and follow all directions given to you by health officials at all times. However, the current advice is that you should get a COVID-19 test if you:

  • if you are a Household Contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case

  • if mandatory testing applies to your job

  • if you are directed to do so by health officials.

When are you required to isolate?

Isolation requirements can change over time, so please ensure you refer to the official COVID-19 Government website for the most up-to-date information, and follow all directions given to you by health officials at all times.

What your responsibilities are as a Sidekick?

Sidekicker is following advice from the Ministry of Health in relation to testing and self-isolation requirements of our workforce. Please note this advice is changing periodically and so we ask that you remain alert and regularly check for updates. Sidekicker will additionally provide information as updates become available and may change our expectations regarding self-isolation and return to work processes as a result.

Under our current policy, your responsibilities as a Sidekick are as follows:

If you are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Get tested for COVID-19 and isolate until you receive a negative test result, or until advised by health authorities

  • Do not attend on-site work until you receive a negative test result and your symptoms have fully subsided

  • If you need to withdraw from any shifts during this time, please do so via the Sidekicker app at your earliest opportunity

If you are required to self-isolate:

  • Inform Sidekicker as soon as possible and let us know your end-of-isolation date

  • Inform Sidekicker as soon as possible if you test positive for COVID-19

  • Do not attend on-site work until your isolation requirement has ended (or until advised by health authorities), and if you developed symptoms, until those symptoms have fully subsided

  • If you need to withdraw from any shifts during this time, please do so via the Sidekicker app at your earliest opportunity.

If you have tested positive for COVID-19:

  • Inform Sidekicker right away

  • Isolate and follow all advice provided to you by health authorities and in line with the Ministry of Health guidelines for positive cases

  • Do not attend on-site work until you have met all testing and isolation requirements and are no longer experiencing symptoms

How Sidekicker is protecting its workforce

The health and safety of our workforce is our priority. We are committed to doing all that we can to minimise the spread of COVID-19 (and other illnesses such as the flu).

We will continue to communicate with you regularly regarding our policy on COVID-19 (in line with advice from government bodies) and will provide periodic reminders about the importance of good hygiene.

We will also continue to communicate with our clients (your host employers) to ensure that they are taking appropriate steps to protect the health and safety of their workforce, clients, and those in their care (etc). If you have any concerns about the health and safety conditions of a particular workplace, please be sure to notify us as soon as possible.

How to protect yourself from infection

One of the best ways to protect yourself and others from contracting COVID-19 is by practicing good hygiene. Here are some recommended steps that you can take to try and limit the spread of COVID-19:

  • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. This includes before and after eating and after going to the toilet

  • Use alcohol-based hand sanitisers when unable to wash with soap and water

  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

  • Cover coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue, and dispose of used tissues immediately after use

  • Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects you use often such as desks, bench tops, phones, keyboards (etc)

Helpful links

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