“If I could sum up why I’m committed to the HR Girlfriends community it would come down to because we are ‘….in this together.'”

~Sana’ Rasul, Chief Girlfriend

Q&A: One of our employees has chicken pox. Is it okay to tell our other employees about this condition?

Question:

One of our employees has chicken pox. Is it okay to tell our other employees about this condition?

Answer from Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP:

I recommend informing employees that they may have been exposed to chicken pox, but I would not reveal the name of the employee who has the condition. I would also limit the announcement to those employees who have a need to know, i.e., those who may have come into contact with the infected employee or those you know to be immunocompromised.

You do not have to allow this employee to come to work while infected. However, if they say they are no longer contagious and would like to return, you can require the employee to provide a doctor’s note to that effect. Once you have the note, you can decide how best to handle the situation based on what the doctor recommends.

Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP

Monica, SPHR, SHRM-CP

Monica has held roles as an HR Generalist and Payroll and Benefits manager at a large ski resort, providing HR guidance to more than 500 employees. She also has HR experience in the healthcare field and the non-profit world. Monica holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Linfield College.

Leave a comment

Never miss an opportunity to earn HRCI/SHRM credits, identify a mentor, or connect 1:1 with another HR Girlfriend in your city or across the country.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

HR Girlfriends™ is a Human Resources networking organization dedicated to advancing the practice and culture of people empowerment. Our team of Girlfriends consult, train, educate, develop, share, promote, and advocate for solutions in the field of human resource management.

Are You IN?
Or Are You OUT?

It’s time you join forces with a community of like-minded peers ready to tackle the issues unique to the women of HR.
  • All
  • Affirmation
  • Career Mondays
  • Certification
  • COVID-19
  • CyberSAFE
  • Guest Blogger
  • HR Advisor
  • HR Law Alert
  • HR Q&A
  • HR Reading
  • HR Reel Talk
  • Join Our Team - Apply Now
  • Membership
All
  • All
  • Affirmation
  • Career Mondays
  • Certification
  • COVID-19
  • CyberSAFE
  • Guest Blogger
  • HR Advisor
  • HR Law Alert
  • HR Q&A
  • HR Reading
  • HR Reel Talk
  • Join Our Team - Apply Now
  • Membership
Affirmation

Affirmation: 4 Important Life Skills Your Parents Didn’t Teach You

We learn a lot of things in school, but many of them aren’t particularly valuable from the standpoint of practicality. You were probably required to …

Read More →
Career Mondays

Career Monday: Save Your Job – How to Deal With a Bad Boss

Odds are that you will have at least one bad boss sooner or later. It can be a very challenging situation without obvious solutions. But …

Read More →
HR Q&A

Q&A: Exempt Employee Taking Long Lunches

You can deduct hours from this exempt employee’s PTO bank for time she was scheduled to work but didn’t work, but if it wasn’t made …

Read More →
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap