This is true especially for folks who work in corporations rather than for small businesses.
People can shout HIPPA all they want, but it doesn't do much good. In my workplace if an employee reports Wuhan Flu symptoms or calls out sick, they're expected to "volunteer" test results (it's not a violation if they volunteer the information). If negative, they can return to work 24 hours after symptoms subside. If positive, they can return to work 24 hours after symptoms subside and they voluntarily provide a negative test.
If they choose not to volunteer test results, then we're required to treat them as positive and cancel their access to all corporate properties for two weeks or until 24 hours after symptoms subside, whichever is longer. Managers that fail to follow the policy for their employees are subject to dismissal.
The time off must be taken out of regular leave, or it's unpaid.
It's a horrible policy all around.
I'm fortunate that my branch doesn't have a lot of direct oversight, so I've chosen "don't ask, don't tell." How could I possibly know someone is sick unless they specifically tell me? I'm not a doctor. It could just be that someone's coughing a bit from drinking water too fast. I'm not going to go Karen into an employee's personal choices and possibly wind up forcing them to miss 2+ weeks of pay for this nonsense. They're responsible adults and can make their own choices and risk assessments.
This is true especially for folks who work in corporations rather than for small businesses.
People can shout HIPPA all they want, but it doesn't do much good. In my workplace if an employee reports Wuhan Flu symptoms or calls out sick, they're expected to "volunteer" test results (it's not a violation if they volunteer the information). If negative, they can return to work 24 hours after symptoms subside. If positive, they can return to work 24 hours after symptoms subside and they voluntarily provide a negative test.
If they choose not to volunteer test results, then we're required to treat them as positive and cancel their access to all corporate properties for two weeks or until 24 hours after symptoms subside, whichever is longer. Managers that fail to follow the policy for their employees are subject to dismissal.
The time off must be taken out of regular leave, or it's unpaid.
It's a horrible policy all around.
I'm fortunate that my branch doesn't have a lot of direct oversight, so I've chosen "don't ask, don't tell." How could I possibly know someone is sick unless they specifically tell me? I'm not a doctor. It could just be that someone's coughing a bit from drinking water too fast. I'm not going to go Karen into an employee's personal choices and possibly wind up forcing them to miss 2+ weeks of pay for this nonsense. They're responsible adults and can make their own choices and risk assessments.