Two colleagues in masks bump fists.

COVID-19 and Communicable Diseases

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we work, and other communicable diseases continue to affect workplaces globally. Look below for the latest news and updates, as well as critical member-only resources.

Member Resources

A sample letter to employees regarding the coronavirus and flu outbreak.

View sample memos on relaxed and continued mask wearing in the workplace.

Understand how to evaluate and respond to an employee's request for reasonable accommodation to be exempt from vaccination requirements.

This toolkit provides an overview of how employers can respond to the threat presented by the flu virus and other epidemics.

Find ready-to-use tools and samples for your organization during the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.

A sample letter to employees informing them of coronavirus exposure at work.

A sample form for an employee to request exemption from required vaccinations.

An example survey to gauge employee willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

Use this policy as a model to help control the spread of an infectious disease such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the workplace.

News & Research

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is expected announce that people with COVID-19 no longer need to isolate once they have been fever-free for 24 hours, in a move that stands to have wide-ranging impacts on the workplace.

Managers are encouraging sick employees to come into the office—a trend that can backfire, experts say.

From helping employees take advantage of offerings like sick leave and telemedicine benefits to encouraging vaccination and rethinking unnecessary company travel, organizations would be wise to take steps during the virus peak, experts say.

A substantial number of U.S. workers said they were unlikely to get the vaccine, according to research by the Society for Human Resource Management. If they remain fearful, it could delay businesses from returning to normal operations.

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