Poll: Flu and Work

ERNOWAK

How would you feel if your work did not notify its employees if an employee was diagnosed with the H1N1 flu? I just got a posting that my work is refraining from telling it's employees if there was an H1N1 breakout. I know the privacy of employees is important but since this has been a hot item especially causing some deaths, I don't agree with refraining from telling employees. I think I would want to know. This flu is scary.

They notify daycares of this if a child has H1N1, why can't they do the same. I just don't get it. Anyways I was wondering how you would feel if your work posted something like this.

fIowerchild

I don't think they should reveal WHO has it, but I would appreciate knowing that someone has it.  But honestly, I don't know if there are privacy laws that regulate what an employer can and cannot do.

Just curious (not snippy) - what would you do if you found out that someone had it?  I'm sure you're already taking the extra precautions (hand washing, etc) so if you don't know WHO it was, what can you do differently?

NewlywednOhio

I agree with you. I would want to know.

Fortunately for me, our work advises us. We have already had two people here at work with it, and they let us know immediately.?

MegGary

I'd check w/t he CDC to see if that is even legal. They might have to report it as a matter of legalities. Not sure though.

I mean what if another employee has a low immune system & needs to know such things.

KKM

Maybe they are scared of mass call-ins with people who dont want to be around it (but probably have already been exposed) or who get a runny nose and then think they are sick too.

 

 

6fsn

Nobody has the right to someone else's health status.  H1N1 or not.

MegGary

I think if I knew someone I work with had it & than I started having symptoms I'd be more inclined to see my doctor sooner than later. We have children. We cannot mess w/ things like the flu.

missfire

That's weird - i would think most office just wouldn't say anything -- they wouldn't send a memo saying that they have a policy not to say something!

Last year, our office posted a policy that if you traveled to Mexico, you had to "quarantine" yourself at home for a week afterward, using your sick time, before coming back to work. They rescinded that after a few weeks, but still ask people with flu symptoms not to come to work. I don't think they'll notify us of anything, though -- there's no official way to notify the company if we have a specific illness, unless it's something the Health Department would do automatically or something.

Dobie_Mama

I think that's odd.  I work for a university and we're required to notify faculty, staff, & students if there is a case on campus.  Of course we don't (and can't) say who it is, but we still have to say, "Hey, X # of people on campus have been diagnosed.  Wash your hands, people!"

Amrice78

HIPPA regulations do not allow them to tell you who is sick, but I don't see why they won't tell you that someone is sick with H1N1

ERNOWAK

I guess for me I wouldn't want to know exactly who had it but I would at least like to know that there was someone who has it and that way I could at least try to take the necessary precautions not that I haven't already. I am just saying, it makes you more alert and attuned to things.

fIowerchild

6fsn:

Nobody has the right to someone else's health status.  H1N1 or not.

Wow, that sig picture is cute.

6fsn

Thanks.  He was pretty funny.