Having an Infectious Diseases Policy is a good idea!

As we know Coronavirus, Norovirus, and flu have not gone away and there is a sound business case for having an Infectious Diseases policy in place to help in minimising the risk of infections diseases spreading in the workplace through effective prevention and management.  It seeks to ensure that all employees are aware of the issues relating to infectious diseases at work which included guidelines for managers and supervisors.  As we have learnt infectious diseases emerge and spread quickly across the world as a result of global travel and other interconnections. Workplaces can be incubators for disease, particularly if hygiene and infection control is poor, or if employees go to work when they are unwell.

These diseases can have a potentially significant impact on the business. An employee who is off sick with a flu-related illness is typically absent for six days. As well as the direct costs of infection-related sickness absence, there are also indirect costs associated with lost productivity, damaged customer confidence and poor service levels.

Employers have a duty of care to maintain a healthy and safe working environment. This includes minimising the risk of employees contracting an infectious disease from colleagues, customers, or clients.

A policy will help promote awareness and understanding of the issues and concerns relating to the transmission of infectious diseases in the workplace, including risks associated with more serious infections such as measles, mumps or monkeypox.

To achieve this, employers can provide information on the nature and spread of common infectious diseases and publish the procedures to be followed in the event of an individual illness or an outbreak affecting a significant number of employees.

If you would like us to assist with a policy and procedure, please call us on 01473 276170, email us on info@sos-hr.co.uk or use our contact form .