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April/May 2020  Volume 18, Number 2        
 

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CDC Guidance for Employers and Coronavirus COVID-19

Your cleanliness and sick leave policies may need to be reexamined.

Though it's too soon to tell as we go to press, there probably will be workers' compensation issues regarding the payment of temporary and medical benefits due to occupational exposure to the COVID-19. However, since an occupational injury or disease must usually be unique to and triggered by work conditions — and not something to which the general public is exposed — in most situations employees affected by the coronavirus would not receive workers compensation. Nevertheless, experts say that employers need to be careful about situations where exposure to the virus could be construed by some as an occupational injury.

To help prevent workplace exposure to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, the CDC has issued the following guidelines. Employers are also cautioned that to avoid workplace stigma and discrimination, determination of risk should not be based on race or country of origin.

Actively encourage sick employees to stay home:

  • Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they are sick.
  • Ensure that your sick leave policies are flexible and consistent with public health guidance and that employees are aware of these policies.
  • Talk with companies that provide your business with contract or temporary employees about the importance of sick employees staying home and encourage them to develop non-punitive leave policies.
  • Do not require a healthcare provider's note for employees who are sick with acute respiratory illness to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and not able to provide such documentation in a timely way.
  • Employers should maintain flexible policies that permit employees to stay home to care for a sick family member. Employers should be aware that more employees may need to stay at home to care for sick children or other sick family members than is usual.

Separate sick employees:

  • CDC recommends that employees who appear to have acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or become sick during the day should be separated from other employees and be sent home immediately. Sick employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing (or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available).

Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees:

  • Place posters that encourage staying home when sick, cough and sneeze etiquette, and hand hygiene at the entrance to your workplace and in other workplace areas where they are likely to be seen. For more information visit https://tinyurl.com/https-cdc-gov-etiquette
  • Provide tissues and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by employees.
  • Instruct employees to clean their hands often with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60-95% alcohol or wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Soap and water should be used preferentially if hands are visibly dirty.
  • Provide soap and water and alcohol-based hand rubs in the workplace. Ensure that adequate supplies are maintained. Place hand rubs in multiple locations or in conference rooms to encourage hand hygiene.
  • Perform routine environmental cleaning.
  • Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in the workplace, such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label.
  • Provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs, keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped down by employees before each use.

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In this issue:

This Just In...

CDC Guidance for Employers and Coronavirus COVID-19

What is the Doctrine of Personal Comfort?

The Key to Effective Claims Management

CDC Travel Advisory for Employees Who Travel

 

 


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