COVID-19 

​UPDATE: Studio COVID Policies

Through all stages of the COVID pandemic, LAIKA has followed agency guidelines and has updated its policies to match the latest CDC and OHA updates. Additionally, LAIKA recognizes that COVID-19 impacts everyone differently and everyone has different comfort levels. We urge employees to continue to adjust their own individual COVID responses to align with their own needs.

As of early 2024 the Center for Disease Control and Oregon Health Authority updated their recommendations for best practices to cover a wide range of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Per the CDC, the guidance for respiratory infections is that individuals should stay home until they’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours and their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours.

Information can be found on the CDC’s website here:





    COVID/Respiratory Illness Protocol as of July 1, 2024

    • ​Individuals should stay home until they’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours and their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours. Employees should inform their manager of any illness-related absences.
    • Employees are expected to mask 10 days following a positive COVID test. Additionally, LAIKA recommends masking with any significant lingering respiratory symptoms unrelated to COVID.
    • COVID Quarantine Paid Leave ends July 1, 2024. Employees experiencing illness (respiratory or otherwise) can use their 5 days of LAIKA Sick Pay or may be eligible for paid time off under LAIKA’s Paid Leave Program guidelines for time away from work due to a serious health condition. A serious health condition is defined as 3 days away from work and a regimen of treatment as certified by a medical provider or a chronic condition resulting in ongoing intermittent time off. LAIKA encourages employees who have questions about eligibility for Paid Leave to reach out to the Benefits Department for assistance at benefits@laika.com.



    COVID-19 Vaccinations

    LAIKA hosts Flu/COVID Vaccine Clinics in the fall. Additionally, any employee on either LAIKAcare plan can go to any in-network pharmacy or participating provider’s office to receive either vaccine at any time for no cost.

    While the COVID Vaccine Pay program ended in early 2023, we are mindful that people may experience side effects from the vaccines and have arranged for onsite flu and COVID vaccination clinics to occur later in the week or during the weekend to allow for more recovery time. Employees are encouraged to schedule their vaccines on a Friday or weekend OR use their frontloaded Sick Time or PTO if needed during the work week.



    COVID Tests 

    Employees on either LAIKAcare plan can receive full reimbursement for up to 8 tests per month covered in full by their LAIKA insurance. Employees may submit their receipts to Luminare directly for reimbursement. OR employees may email their receipt to benefits@laika.com and the Benefits Team will take care of the reimbursement submission on their behalf. Simply put “COVID test reimbursement” in the email subject line and attach your receipt.

      LAIKA no longer stocks rapid COVID tests onsite, as they are readily available for home delivery.  

      Questions or concerns? Please email benefits@laika.com.