Dear Colleagues:

As I continue to reiterate, the health and safety of our employees, our families, and our customers is of highest concern during this pandemic.  DRBA continues to review and adjust its current pandemic protocols based on what’s happening across the nation, in our states, and at our worksites.  The following is an update to the protocol for employees returning from personal and business travel.

Effective Monday, November 1, 2021

Personal Travel

Any employee that travels for personal reasons to any U.S. State (not including New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland) or internationally, or is planning personal travel in the near future, must self-identify in advance of their travel to their Department Head and Human Resources (Andrew Ritchie, Employee Relations & Compliance Manager at andrew.ritchie@drba.net or (302) 229-6196 cell or (302) 571-6477 office) the dates of travel, destination, and the anticipated test date.

Employees will be required to take a COVID-19 test at a testing site and present a negative result before returning to work on-site.  

Employees are expected to obtain this test as soon as practicable and must quarantine until test results are received.  As soon as test results are received, employees are to immediately inform Andrew Ritchie.   

Employees will only be paid for the day of the test without using their accumulated leave.  If the test is taken on a scheduled day off, employees will be paid COVID-19 Quarantine for the next scheduled work day. For work days before the day of the test and after the day of the test, employees must use their own Annual Leave, Personal Leave, Compensatory Time, or Administrative Leave until test results are received.   

Business Travel

Business travel for mandatory training or other business critical need will be reviewed and approved by the Executive Director in consultation with Department Heads and Chief Officers.  Business travel between DRBA locations should continue only as necessary to conduct functions of an employee’s job or as required by management.  If the business can be conducted through virtual teleconferencing, that is highly recommended.

Employees returning from approved business travel to any state will be required to test prior to returning on-site.  Employees approved for business travel will be apprised of the testing process by HR.

We are continuing to review other safety protocols which include COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.  More information will be shared as decisions are made.

Thank you for your cooperation, and please continue to stay safe and healthy.

Tom