May an employer encourage or require employees to telework (i.e., work from an alternative location such as home) as an infection control strategy?
Yes. Telework is an effective infection-control strategy that is also familiar to ADA-covered employers as a reasonable accommodation.
In addition, employees with disabilities that put them at high risk for complications of pandemic influenza may request telework as a reasonable accommodation to reduce their chances of infection during a pandemic.
See generally EEOC Fact Sheet on Work at Home/Telework as a Reasonable Accommodation at http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/telework.html
Last Reviewed: 10/06/2009
Related Questions:
- May an ADA-covered employer send employees home if they display influenza-like symptoms during a pandemic?
- What ways can we prevent the spread of the flu?
- How long can an infected person spread H1N1 (swine) flu to others?
- What is the best way to keep from spreading the virus through coughing or sneezing?
- Should family members of sick students stay home too?
