Keep your employees healthy with
a communicable disease policy

The spread of the flu virus in your workplace is a threat to attendance, productivity and the health of your workforce (not to mention increased health–care costs).

A Communicable Disease Policy can lessen the impact of a flu outbreak in your business and is a good addition to every company’s employee handbook.

Elements of a Communicable Disease Policy

Communication

Ask employees to notify management of exposure to certain diseases, including the flu virus. This will allow you to take proactive preventive measures against the spread of the disease.

Since medical disclosures are governed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you must ensure that the policy meets the requirements of the ADA. Employers should also ensure that employee health information is kept confidential as required by HIPAA.

Flexible Hours and Working From Home

Document specific parameters for when and how employees may have reduced working hours, work from a remote location or be removed from non–essential job duties until they are no longer contagious.

Travel and Quarantine Policies

A good place to start is consulting the Centers for Disease Control and U.S. State Department Web sites and building a policy that is compliant with these two bodies.

The Centers for Disease Control’s Travelers’ Health Section provides notices and information for preventing illness while traveling.

The U.S. State Department Travel.State.Gov Web site details international travel advisories and quarantine measures being taken worldwide.

Generally speaking, employees traveling to areas with current communicable disease outbreaks should obtain all recommended vaccinations and follow all health guidelines.

Your travel policy should inform employees of what to do in the event of a quarantine when arriving in the U.S. or another country. Document a policy about continuing work responsibilities and paid/unpaid leave in the event of a quarantine.

Leave Policies

Social distancing may be one of the best tools to prevent the spread of a communicable disease in the workplace.

Employees may be subject to quarantine, could be ill and need to stay home, or may be home caring for sick relatives. As a result, these individuals should remain away from the workplace to reduce the likelihood of infecting others.

Other employees may fear that they will come in contact with a disease while being in the workplace, and consequently refuse to come to work.

In response, companies may wish to devise policies to address these concerns and leave issues.

Sample Policies

Please contact your TriSure representative or login to TriSure Online to see sample Communicable Disease Policies.