Okay, so now we got the swine flu and from all I can see, the incidence of it does not seem huge. I have seen bigger waves of the flu infest my office and go through EVERYONE because we are not taught to stay home when we are coughing and hacking and running a fever. Some take pride in rolling into the office sick and working anyway. They touch the bathroom door knob after sneezing and coughing into their hand, they put their empty water bottles up over the water machine nozzle thinking nothing of spreading their germs--and companies think nothing of it.
Parents continue to send sick kids to school without follow the rules of keeping them home 24 hours after a fever, or vomiting. It is common sense and our society is so go-go-go we cannot stay home and just get over it.
I for one simply hate finding I am talking to someone running a fever or who has not stayed away from me when yesterday they were vomiting...ewww. Please, how can we EVER expect to contain a pandemic when we cannot even use common courtesy? And, for those of us who are healthy, be careful of the surfaces you touch and the water machines you drink from. We have to be extra cautious due to lack of courtesy of others.
These are the notes we are getting at work now about the flu. I guess if our whole department was out it would be a disaster! Am I working in a police state?
Then again, every day at work I take calls where the passengers on commercial flights get on knowingly with H1N1.
With the Memorial Day Holiday, we mark the beginning of the summer travel season. We would like to take this opportunity to review the travel precautions, regarding personal travel, that have been instituted as a result of the continuing H1N1 Influenza outbreak. These measures are being implemented in an effort to maintain a healthy workplace and ensure business continuity. (Please note: the following provisions are subject to revision without notice due to the evolving nature of the influenza outbreak.)
1. If you or a member of your household is planning a visit to Mexico:
§ Please notify HR.
§ You will be placed in contact with Dr. Robb Leigh, MedAire’s Medical Director, to discuss your travel plans and to obtain counsel regarding travel to Mexico.
§ If you decide to travel to Mexico, you will be:
o Prohibited from returning to the work place or traveling on company business for a minimum of 96 hours following your return to the Phoenix area.
o Required to contact Dr. Leigh upon your return to the area for a health assessment.
§ Contact Dr. Leigh at: Robb.LEIGH@MedAire.com. Please include the following information in your email:
· The presence or absence of any of the following symptoms: fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat or cough
· Any other symptoms
· Date/time when the symptoms begun
· Travel history including dates
· Possible exposures to ill persons during travel
· Your phone number in case Dr. Leigh needs to contact you
o If unable to email, you may call: 480-333-3748.
o Required to contact Dr. Leigh at the conclusion of 96 hour restricted period and to obtain approval to return to the office.
§ If you are not ill at the time of the initial assessment, you may be allowed to work from home, provided you have remote work capabilities and your manager approves you to work from home. If approved, your manager must forward written authorization to HR prior to your commencing work from home.
o If you do not have remote work capabilities and/or your manager does not approve you to work from home, you will need to use available vacation or sick time if you wish to be paid for the period.
§ If you are ill at the time of the initial health assessment after returning to the Phoenix area, or become ill during the 96 hour period, you are required to notify your manager and HR of your absence.
o You will be required to refrain from work.
o You will be required to utilize available sick or vacation time to cover the absence.
o The time away from work will be unpaid if there is no available sick or vacation time.
o You will need to obtain a medical release from your health care provider and Dr. Leigh’s medical clearance prior to returning to the office.
2. If you or a member of your immediate family are planning travel within the USA or Canada:
§ Please notify HR.
§ You will be placed in contact with Dr. Robb Leigh to discuss your travel plans.
§ Depending upon the, then current, severity risk for exposure at the destination area, you may be advised that you will be required to observe the same quarantine procedure identified for travel to Mexico. Areas identified as being at serious risk for exposure may change frequently—regardless of original travel guidance, a person may be required to observe a quarantine period upon return if the situation has changed.
§ If travel is to a non-severe infection area and that status has not changed:
o Upon return to the Phoenix area and prior to returning to the office, you must contact Dr. Leigh for a health assessment. (See contact information above.)
§ If there are no signs of flu-like symptoms, you may be authorized to return to work immediately.
§ If you are assessed as having flu-like symptoms or being at risk for the flu, you will be prohibited from returning to the work place or traveling on company business for a minimum of 96 hours.
· If you are not ill at the time of the initial assessment, you may be allowed to work from home, provided you have remote work capabilities and your manager approves you to work from home.
o If approved, your manager must forward written authorization to HR prior to your commencing work from home.
· If you are ill at the time of the initial health assessment after returning to the Phoenix area, or become ill during the 96 quarantine hour period, you are required to notify your manager and HR of your absence.
o You will be required to refrain from work.
o You will be required to utilize available sick or vacation time to cover the absence.
o The time away from work will be unpaid if there is no available sick or vacation time.
o You will need to obtain a medical release from your health care provider and Dr. Leigh’s medical clearance prior to returning to the office.
3. Please keep in mind that the mode of travel (e.g., commercial air travel versus private vehicle) may affect exposure risk.
4. Please remember that whether you are traveling away from the area or not, attendance at public events may also increase the risk for exposure.
§ If you experience 2 or more flu-like symptoms, please do not come to the workplace.
§ Notify your supervisor and HR immediately; you will be placed in contact with Dr. Leigh for assessment.
5. In all situations, continue to exercise good hygiene practices including frequent hand washing and proper social distancing.
Thank you for your continuing cooperation.
Posted by: Nina | May 26, 2009 at 05:24 PM