contagious diseases

Mkelley

I have an employee who had family members with Fifth disease,
a rather harmless childhood condition similar to measles. She
wanted to continue working, even if she would have contracted
it. One complication - it seems a person is most contagious
before a rash appears, confirming that you have the disease.

the problem: a co-worker is pregnant, this disease could pose
a threat to the unborn child, especially in this first half.
(this is verified with the oby)

do I have the right to ask the potentially contagious person
to work alternate schedule, or stay home (at her expense, sick
days, vaca. days etc)

how far do I have to go to provide a "safe" workplace???
Mkelley

Hatchetman

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 06-03-03 AT 12:43PM (CST)[/font][p]Firslty, I think you need to talk to a public health "expert" to give you a better idea of just how contagious or not contagious the disease is. This includes the likelihood that a pregnant employee could catch the disease. Is the concern here about the pregnant employee or is it just regading the likelihood of transmission of the disease(if that what her chidlren currently have) on to the employee's co-workers?

I'm sure that if it were highly contagious that the emplyee would not be allowed out of the house if her children had the disease. But I don't know.

Once you get that information, you may have a better idea about what to do.

sandra_d

I know that our local schools place warning notices on the entrance doors to the school notifying those who enter that "a suspected or confirmed case of Fifth Disease" was diagnosed in a student(s) in the school - and that women who are or may be pregnant should consult with their physician before entering the building.

Since it would appear that the warnings are just toward pregnant women, perhaps the person in your office who is pregnant should consult with his/her physician as to whether she should continue to come to work, and exactly what risk she faces. I would think if there is any risk at all, you, the potentially contagious person, and the pregnant person, could all work together to come up with a reasonable solution agreeable to all. Certainly the potentially contagious person could understand the concerns of the pregnant person, and the pregnant person should understand the hardship of requiring someone to off work would bring upon that person's household. I have to believe there is middle-ground here somewhere.