How to manage concerns and anxieties about infectious diseases at work
This article provides a brief overview of best practice on how to communicate and manage employee concerns, whatever the nature of the infectious disease.
What is an infectious disease?
Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by germs (such as viruses, bacteria or fungi) that can make you ill if they get into your body and multiply. Contagious, or communicable diseases, may be transmitted to others when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is also possible to become infected through sex or indirect contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of an infected person, for example when touching an object that an infected person has used, such as a door handle or computer mouse.
Some infectious diseases can be transmitted to people from insects or animals but cannot spread from person to person. Fears about infectious diseases sometimes result from people’s mistaken beliefs that they can “catch” illnesses that are not contagious.
Best practices for managers
Share accurate and up-to-date information
If an infectious disease is causing concern in your workplace, sharing accurate information about the disease is the first step towards helping to manage anxieties in the workplace.
Offer reassurance and help people stay focused
Make clear that your organisation takes health and safety very seriously and will take appropriate steps to protect employees. With regard to Coronavirus, regularly check for updates on the NHS website if your employees normally travel to a country where wide-spread infection has been reported.
Describe the steps your organisation is taking to protect employees, customers and the public
If an outbreak of an infectious disease occurs in your community, give your employees information about how your organisation plan to keep the business running smoothly. Explain what policies are in place, what type of medical leave and flexible work options exist, and what pay and benefits will be available. Try to develop procedures that will allow key business tasks to be delegated to others or done remotely, if people become infected.
Help people to stay focused on their work and maintain normal routines
Encourage any employees who shows signs of stress or anxiety to contact your employee assistance programme. The programme offers support and resources for many personal and work-related issues.
What to do if an employee has infectious disease-related concerns
HR should be prepared to answers questions about issues such as:
- how to protect the privacy of an employee who has or has had an infectious disease, if others ask about the illness
- what leave or flexible work options are available to someone who has had or has been exposed to an infectious disease
- when an employee may return to work after developing an infectious disease or after traveling to a country where the employee may have been exposed to one
- how to avoid discriminating against or engaging in potentially unfair treatment of someone who has or has had an infectious disease
- what to do if someone refuses to come to work for fear of being infected with a highly contagious disease.
Maintaining good communication will help employees stay calm, focused and productive when people have worries or fears about infectious diseases. Because many diseases are rarely, if ever, contagious, a little reassurance and accurate information can help everyone keep the situation in perspective.
This article is provided by Lifeworks by Morneau Sheppell.
In partnership with TELUS Health (FKA LifeWorks)
TELUS Health is a global healthcare leader serving people in more than 160 countries. We deliver digital innovation and clinical services to improve total physical, mental and financial health and wellness. We help employers better support the health and wellbeing of their workforce. We partner with insurers to optimise the benefits experience. We connect healthcare professionals, and people to the care they need when they need it.
