Contagious Disease Policy

Overview/Policy Statement

The Hartford is committed to providing a workplace free of health hazards. This includes protecting employees from contagious disease spread in the workplace.
 
Examples of "contagious disease" as defined and covered by this policy include, but are not limited to:
  • Chickenpox
  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Tuberculosis
  • Meningitis
  • Whooping Cough
  • SARS
  • Avian or similar type of influenza (but not the common seasonal flu)
  • Zika
This policy is not intended to cover common illnesses, such as colds and viruses, sore throats and upper respiratory infections.
 
Managers and employees must report known contagious disease (as defined by this policy) in the workplace to onsite Health Services or Corporate Medical in Hartford at (860) 547-5662. Any employee who has a contagious disease (as defined by this policy) that could be spread through normal work contact is not permitted access to the workplace until he or she no longer has the contagious disease, or the disease is no longer transmissible through normal work contact as determined by his or her medical provider.
 
Employees who know they have a contagious disease (as defined by this policy) have an obligation to minimize physical contact with other employees, and therefore must not come to the workplace. If an employee believes he or she may have contracted a contagious disease, he or she should contact his or her medical provider for evaluation before returning to the workplace.
 
If management believes an employee is exhibiting symptoms of a contagious disease while in the workplace, management, following a consultation with Corporate Medical (via the phone) or onsite Health Services, reserves the right to send the employee home immediately on PTO (or unpaid leave if PTO is unavailable).
 
For those locations with on-site Health Services, management reserves the right to require an employee to go to Health Services for evaluation in the event of a potential contagious disease. Health Services reserves the right to send the employee home immediately on PTO (or unpaid time if PTO is unavailable) following the evaluation.
 
Prior to returning to work following a contagious disease, an employee must provide Corporate Medical with a release to return to work from a medical provider that indicates the employee no longer poses a threat to others to fax number 860-547-4282. Corporate Medical will provide clearance for the employee to return to work, and Employee Relations will inform the employee and manager. In the event an employee is returning to work following a contagious disease where travel outside of the United States took place, the medical release provided to Corporate Medical should be from a US-licensed health care provider.
 
Discrimination or harassment of employees having or regarded as having a contagious disease is prohibited.
 

Eligibility/Scope

  • This policy applies to all employees of The Hartford and its participating subsidiaries who are based at U.S. locations of The Hartford.
  • Hartford locations outside of the U.S. shall apply the intent and provisions of this policy unless local applicable law prohibits or requires otherwise.

Applying the Policy

  • In the event of a pandemic or other wide-spread health risk, managers and employees will be given directives regarding appropriate actions for the handling of contagious disease that may differ from the requirements of this policy. In this event, managers and employees are required to follow current directives from Human Resources and Corporate Medical.
  • Managers needing guidance on assessment of contagious disease or potential health risk should contact Corporate Medical in Hartford at (860) 547-5662 or onsite Health Services, if available.
  • If an employee feels he or she has been directly exposed to a contagious disease (as defined by this policy) in the workplace, the employee should contact Corporate Medical or onsite Health Services for determination of appropriate actions.
  • Any employee who has a contagious disease must undergo an assessment by his or her personal healthcare provider to determine exposure risk. While the medical assessment and subsequent review by Corporate Medical is pending, the employee must remain out of the workplace. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disciplinary action. It is the employee's responsibility to ensure his or her medical provider faxes the results of the medical assessment to Corporate Medical at (860) 547-4282. Based on the results of the medical assessment, Corporate Medical will make the determination as to whether the employee may return to the workplace and when. Employee Relations will communicate the clearance to return to work to the employee and the employee's manager.
  • Managers, at their discretion and in consultation with Corporate Medical and Employee Relations, may offer a work-from-home option for any time away from work related to contagious disease that is not covered by PTO or Short Term Disability.
  • An employee with a contagious disease may be eligible for Family or Medical Leave, Short Term Disability, flexible work arrangement, or other benefit under The Hartford's plans and policies. For further information and guidance, employees should contact Employee Relations by submitting a request via the following link: Contact Employee Relations.
  • Any employee who is on a disciplinary notice or warning for attendance, and has a contagious disease (as defined by this policy) that has been documented by their medical provider and reviewed by Corporate Medical, is exempt from the attendance management disciplinary process until the date he or she is cleared to return to work by Corporate Medical.
  • While The Hartford maintains the confidentiality of personal health information, non-personal information relating to contagious disease in the workplace may be disclosed to others when the information is necessary to protect the health of others.
  • Managers and employees are responsible for adherence to company policy. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
 
Revised: 12/31/2019