Return to Work (RTW) A qualified health care professional, such as the employee’s primary-care physician or an occupational-health provider, should make the decision to discontinue isolation after a COVID-19 infection. If an employee returning after illness has a change in their work capabilities and requires accommodations to enable them to work, an assessment performed by a qualified physician can help determine the employee’s ability to perform specific tasks and essential job functions. See below for more information on requests for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As SARS-CoV-2 activity varies, local, state, and federal guidance may change. Check your local health department website or CDC recommendations for return-to-work criteria.
Employee Education and Training Exposure to COVID-19 is not limited to the workplace. COVID-19 employee education should include a review of symptoms, discussion of primary (respiratory) and secondary (contact with contaminated surfaces) routes of transmission, and the importance of vaccination, distancing, disinfection, masking, and other practices outside the workplace. Encourage vigilance and continued safe practices. 11
