COVID-19 Effort FAQ

• What if I am or my staff/trainees/students are unable to continue working in the lab on my grant because ECU requires only staff supporting critical operations to remain or report to work?
• What if I am or my staff/trainees/students are unable to continue working in the lab on my grant because ECU requires only staff supporting critical operations to remain or report to work?
• I’m a student employee. What will happen to my position?
• As a temporary employee, can I continue to work remotely?
• What requirements are there for managing remote employees?
• What if I am sick and unable to work on my grant project.  Can my salary still be charged to the grant?
• If schools or elder-care facilities close, can grant-funded employees stay at home to do child-care and elder-care and still charge their salary to a grant?
• Specific Agency Guidance Table

What if I am or my staff/trainees/students are unable to continue working in the lab on my grant because ECU requires only staff supporting critical operations to remain or report to work?

If the individual is working remotely and contributing to the project, then salary can be charged to the grant.

The NIH, DoD, and NSF have issued statements allowing for the continued charging of salaries, regardless of the work schedule. We expect that other sponsors/agencies will release similar guidance, but as they have yet to issue statements, individuals and projects with other sponsored funding should be aware of the critical importance of documenting effort expended during this time; this includes industry and foundation sources.

Individuals should make every effort during this time to maintain documentation of effort expended in support of the grant remotely versus effort booked without the ability to perform work on the grant, in the event that other sponsors/agencies do not allow for the charging of salaries when effort in support of the grant is not possible.

If an individual cannot contribute to their current project but can contribute to another sponsored project or institutional activity, the salary must be moved to that funding source.

For individuals engaged in research, effort should be recorded at the current or planned levels. Pay distribution should reflect the effort recorded.

What if I am or my staff/trainees/students are unable to continue working in the lab on my grant because ECU requires only staff supporting critical operations to remain or report to work?

YES, provided the project personnel remain engaged on the project.  Current sponsor prior approval requirements regarding disengagement and effort reductions remain in effect.

I’m a student employee. What will happen to my position?

Student employees who are currently teleworking or on special leave provisions can continue to do so through the end of April. Most student jobs will be ending on April 30, 2020.  For full details, see the update on Student and Temporary Employees Guidance.

As a temporary employee, can I continue to work remotely?

Temporary employees whose roles are conducive to telework may continue to telework with approval from their supervisors through April 15, 2020.  Most temporary jobs, regardless of funding, will be discontinued or deemed inactive on April 15, 2020.  For full details, see the update on Student and Temporary Employees Guidance.

What requirements are there for managing remote employees?

Supervisors of employees working remotely should provide guidance to employees as to their duties and responsibilities.  Supervisors may require employees to provide items such as proof of work product, daily status reports, and/or logging of daily contacts to demonstrate continued execution of job duties and responsibilities that would not normally be a part of onsite operations.

What if I am sick and unable to work on my grant project.  Can my salary still be charged to the grant?

Yes. According to ECU’s benefits, sick leave and other paid absences that are permitted under University policy and treated consistently may be charged to the grant.

If schools or elder-care facilities close, can grant-funded employees stay at home to do child-care and elder-care and still charge their salary to a grant?

If a grant-funded employee stays home due to a school or facility closure for child or elder care needs, the employee’s salary would be charged in accordance with ECU policy.

Specific Agency Guidance

Below is a table summarizing which agencies have adopted the guidance of OMB M-17-20 and allow salary and other non-refundable costs to be charged to awards