Memo: Preventing the Spread of Communicable Diseases

Date:

To: All employees

From:

[Company name] is taking proactive steps to maintain a safe workplace and encourage and/or adopt practices protecting the health of employees, customers, visitors or others. We also want to ensure the continuity of business operations when communicable disease transmission is significant.

We ask all employees to cooperate in taking steps to reduce the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace. Employees are reminded of the following:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
• Avoid people who are sick with symptoms of a communicable disease, such as a fever, cough or rash.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.
• Avoid close physical contact in the workplace, such as handshakes or hugs.
• Get vaccinated against communicable diseases as recommended by your health care provider.

[Company name] will provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers throughout the workplace and in common areas. Cleaning sprays and wipes will also be provided to clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces, such as telephones and keyboards.

Employees are encouraged to use the telephone and videoconferencing instead of face-to-face meetings as much as possible during a communicable disease outbreak. IT support services are available to employees who need assistance with this technology.

It is critical that employees do not report to work while they are experiencing symptoms of a communicable disease. Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. We provide paid sick time and other benefits to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness. Employees who report to work while sick will be sent home in accordance with health guidelines.  

While we currently do not offer formal telework arrangements, [Company name] will consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests from employees to work from home during times when communicable disease transmission is significant. While not all positions are conducive to telework, those positions with primary job duties that can be effectively performed remotely will be given consideration.

Please contact the human resources department with any questions or concerns.