Work-from-home policy changes after latest COVID-19 case at NC Insurance Department

Working from home became an option for North Carolina Department of Insurance employees last week after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said Monday.

Causey said he did not know if the employee had been symptomatic at work, but the office was cleaned and employees were tested following the report.

It’s not the first case at the agency.

“We had one in the middle of June — one employee test positive,” Causey said. “And we had one other that tested positive in the last week or two.”

He said he has not heard of another employee’s test coming back positive.

North Carolina’s first case of COVID-19 was reported on March 3 and had rapidly spread by the middle of that month. Causey said for six to eight weeks the department closed its doors to the public but workers continued to come into the office.

Those with underlying medical conditions were an exception. They were given a work-from-home option.

But after the latest case of COVID-19 within the department, workers began to complain.

“Last week we had some employees express that they did not feel comfortable coming in,” Causey said.

Not all employees can work from home but those who can now have that option, said Causey, a Republican in his first term.

And he said a large number chose to do so.

Masks, cleaning, temperature checks

Causey said the office is sanitized nightly and masks are available on every floor, though employees do not have to wear them.

The office is spread out, allowing for social distancing, he said, but he believes most people wear masks during meetings.

Causey said his staff also had their temperatures checked daily before being allowed in the office building. But those checks ended Monday after working from home became a new option.

Visitors to the building will still have their temperatures checked.

“Our building is open to the public,” Causey said.

Causey said having some employees working from home hasn’t reduced the agency’s ability to help the public.

“They haven’t missed a beat,” Causey said. “I’ve had positive comments from the public that have had dealings with us since coronavirus started. The feedback I’ve gotten has been very positive.”