Voluntary Isolation, Voluntary Home Quarantine - FAQs:
- Should doctors give the H1N1 vaccine to persons who have an allergy to eggs?
- During a flu outbreak, may an employer track whether or not employees and their family members or associates have contracted pandemic influenza? If so, and as part of that tracking, may the employer require them to disclose whether they have, or have been exposed to, pandemic influenza?
- When communicating with employees before, during, or after a pandemic, are there restrictions on the type of information that can be shared?
- If an employer lays off employees, will the employees be eligible for unemployment insurance? Will the employer’s unemployment taxes go up?
- May employers mandate employees stay home if they or members of their family are known or suspected to have the flu or been exposed to someone with the flu?
- If employees are out of the workplace for an extended period due to pandemic influenza or caring for family members, will they qualify for any assistance under state or federal law (e.g., unemployment insurance)? What about workers’ compensation?
- Is Federal or State assistance (i.e. tax credits or tax deductions) available to businesses that establish teleworking or other alternative work arrangements for employees during a pandemic?
- Do OSHA’s regulations and standards apply to the home office? Are there any other Federal laws employers need to worry about if employees work from home?
- May an employer require an employee who is out sick with the flu to provide a doctor’s note, submit to a medical exam, or remain symptom-free for a specified amount of time before returning to work?
