Home Forums Community Disclosing Contagious Disease

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  • Rory Lodge
    Keymaster
    Post count: 182

    An employee has come to work with a serious contagious disease (German Measles), and was sent home. Is the employer responsible to disclose to staff members that the serious contagious illness was present in the office?

    Jeffrey Turner
    Keymaster
    Post count: 570

    I like the way you phrase the Q because it suggests you sense the answer. Yes, you do need to disclose BUT without disclosing the employee’s identity–at least without his/her express consent. That’s because the employee’s identity is protect information under personal privacy laws. And, as we discussed in a recent story about privacy and flu risks, there’s a consensus among the major Privacy Commissioners that disclosing the name of an employee suffering from a contagious and infectious illness is NOT permitted without consent.
    Thanks for asking. Hope that helps. Glenn

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