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Initial steps to take if any of your employees test positive for the coronavirus.
Despite taking precautions, millions of people have contracted COVID-19. For employers, the pandemic represents dilemmas if an employee contracts the disease.
One dilemma is how to correctly tell the person’s co-workers.
You must be aware of legal, financial and public relations complications if one or more of your employees gets the coronavirus.
If handled incorrectly, the pandemic would result in the shutting down of your operation not to mention the ethical and PR consequences.
For ethical and legal reasons, you must inform your employees while being mindful of the regulations concerning the confidential requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
When an employee tests positive for COVID-19, it must be remain confidential. You must not divulge the person’s name.
Concurrently, you must notify your other employees that they might have been exposed to the coronavirus, and you must warn them to be careful to make certain they’ve haven’t contracted it.
You must reassure employees that you’re doing everything possible to safeguard their health and safety.
COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidelines for Your Business
Symptoms indicating the possibility of COVID-19, can appear two to 14 days after exposure.
Symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Note the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19 that require immediate emergency medical care:
- Trouble breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake or stay awake
- Bluish lips or face
If an employee tests positive, specific steps to take via email:
- Notify each employees that that one of their co-workers has tested positive.
- Inform employees why you cannot identify the employee who contracted the coronavirus.
- Tell employees to either leave work at once or remain at home if they feel the typical symptoms and take appropriate medical steps.
- Reassure your employees that you’re being very careful about their welfare.
- Explain all the steps you’re taking to prevent infections.
From the Coach’s Corner, here are additional relevant precautions:
COVID-19 Due Diligence: Manage Workers Returning to Work –Employers need to strategize on managing employees in the new normal.
COVID-19 Being Covered under Workers’ Compensation — Across the nation, employees who contract the coronavirus in the workplace are being covered by workers’ compensation. But the rules vary from state to state.
COVID-19’s Lesson for Reviewing Business Procedures — Analogous for business in the coronavirus pandemic, doctors have plans of action and procedures to successfully reach their desired outcomes – to heal patients. Here’s the case to review your standard operating procedures.
Overcome COVID-19 by Recasting Your Business Model — The coronavirus has resulted in a terrible crisis for businesses. However, many can slow the spread of the pandemic while becoming profitable by enhancing their digital capabilities. Here’s how.
10 Tips: Manage Employees to Potential during COVID-19 — Especially during crises like the coronavirus, you must be a coaching leader and role model to oversee employees who are already inspired and manage those who need motivation. Here are 10 tips.
“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
-Francis of Assisi
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