Several Florida Department of Health employees have tested positive for COVID-19 in the

past several weeks at the Southwood location building 4052 resulting in one death of an

employee’s family member.

Management was alerted of the confirmed cases and knew everyone in the office had

possibly been exposed. Nothing was done by management; our office has not been cleaned

or sanitized. We all are still sitting here in cubicles one to two feet apart from each other, in

violation of social distancing. No one is following the governor's required mask order in the

office or in the building for that matter.

The Department is not taking any extra precautions to keep us and our families safe.

However, The State Emergency Operations Center is taking extra precautions to protect

their employees and family members by aggressive screening employees daily.

The screening process requires employees to answer precaution questions, temperature

check and wear a mask before entering. After passing the screening process a bracelet is

placed on your wrist. The bracelet indicates you have been through the screening process

and have been cleared allowing you access to enter the building.

This screening process is done daily. The State Emergency Operations Center also requires

staff to be tested twice a week for COVID-19.

Why isn’t this process required for all state office buildings? Why did the State Emergency

Operations Center shut down and have a deep cleaning done after 12 employees tested

positive last week and not us?

We are living in fear and feel our lives and our family’s lives don’t matter, but too afraid to

speak up for the fear of being fired. We want to be protected like everyone else!

I don’t want to become ill nor do I want my kids sick. We have asked and been denied

several times to work remotely from home. The department is responding to COVID-19 to

keep Florida Residents and Visitors safe but don’t care about the safety of their employees.

Sincerely,

Concerned State of Florida Employees