Initially underestimated and compared to influenza, the latest clinical picture on COVID-19 has led doctors to back away from this viral pneumonia ten times more lethal than influenza. Unlike influenza, coronavirus is not only dangerous for the elderly: severe forms of the disease are observed in all age groups.
What can you do as an employer?
You have a duty to identify, control and eliminate hazards to your workers.
- Promote hygiene rules in the workplace (frequent hand washing with warm water for at least 20 seconds, sneezing and coughing into the elbow, washing hands immediately after using a handkerchief).
- Inform employees about the status of the virus’s spread and the measures to be taken to prevent it (via e-mail or memo on a bulletin board).
- Stay alert for symptoms (fever, cough, breathing difficulties).
- Contact Info-Santé at 811 to determine what action to take if you suspect an employee of being a carrier of COVID-19.
- Require a medical certificate with a diagnosis if a worker is absent due to illness.
- Deny access to the workplace to any worker carrying COVID-19, for the entire period of contagion (anyone diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive employment insurance benefits for their days of isolation).
What should I do if an employee refuses to report to work?
A worker has the right to refuse to perform work that presents a danger to himself or to another person. In this case, COVID-19 may be associated with a hazard. However, the employee’s fear must be reasonable. In a company with appropriate hygiene and awareness measures in place, and no confirmed cases of COVID-19, the employee’s fear would generally be considered unreasonable.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our team of experts.
