During a flu pandemic, may an ADA-covered employer take its employees’ temperatures to determine whether they have a fever?
Generally, measuring an employee’s body temperature is a medical examination. If pandemic influenza symptoms become more severe than the seasonal flu or the H1N1 virus of 2009, or if pandemic influenza becomes widespread in the community as assessed by state or local health authorities or the CDC, then employers may measure employees’ body temperature. However, employers should be aware that some people with influenza, including the 2009 H1N1 virus, do not have a fever.
Last Reviewed: 10/06/2009
Related Questions:
- Are there ADA-compliant ways for employers to identify which employees are more likely to be unavailable for work in the event of a flu outbreak?
- In light of the ADA requirements, how may employers ask employees about factors, including chronic medical conditions, that may cause them to miss work in the event of a pandemic?
- May an ADA-covered employer send employees home if they display influenza-like symptoms during a pandemic?
