How can I help protect employees who may be at higher risk for severe illness?

Have conversations with employees if they express concerns. Some people may be at higher risk of severe illness. This includes older adults (65 years and older) and people of any age with serious underlying medical conditions. By using strategies that help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, you will help protect all employees, including those at higher risk. These strategies include:

• Implementing telework and other social distancing practices
• Actively encouraging employees to stay home when sick
• Providing sick leave
• Promoting handwashing
• Providing supplies and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for cleaning and disinfecting workspaces
• Requiring all employees to wear cloth face coverings

In workplaces where it is not possible to eliminate face-to-face contact (such as retail), consider assigning employees who are at higher risk of severe illness work tasks that allow them to maintain a 6-foot distance from others, if feasible.

Employers should not require employees to provide a note from their healthcare provider when they are sick and instead allow them to inform their supervisors or employee health services when they have conditions that put them at higher risk for diseases.