Memo Template: Prevent the Spread of Flu and Other Communicable Diseases

Customize this memo to include your company name, contact information, and specific policies.

Preventing the Spread of Flu: Help Us Keep Our Workplace Safe and Healthy 

Date: 

To: All employees

From: 

With flu season upon us, [Company Name] is taking proactive measures to contain the spread of flu and other viruses and maintain a healthy and safe workplace for our employees, customers, and visitors.

We ask all employees to cooperate in helping us reduce the transmission of communicable diseases in the workplace so we can minimize the potential impact on business operations. Employees can do their part via the following actions:

• Stay home when you are sick.
• Wash your hands frequently and/or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  
• Cover your mouth with tissues whenever you sneeze, and discard used tissues in the trash.
• Keep a safe distance from anyone who is sick with respiratory or cold symptoms.
• Clean frequently touched surfaces.
• Consider getting a flu shot.

Employees who are sick are encouraged to avoid face-to-face meetings if possible. IT support services are available to employees who need assistance with technology to work remotely.

It is critical that employees do not report to work while they are experiencing symptoms of flu, COVID-19, or other communicable diseases, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that employees remain at home until they are free of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, their symptoms have improved, and at least five (5) days have passed since the symptoms first appeared.

Many times, with the best of intentions, employees report to work even though they feel ill. We provide [Company leave policy, e.g. sick time or paid time off] and other benefits to compensate employees who are unable to work due to illness. Employees who report to work while sick will be sent home in accordance with these health guidelines. If you are unsure of your current sick-leave balance, please contact Human Resources.

Per our policy regarding telecommuting arrangements, [Company name] will consider (on a case-by-case basis) requests to work from home from employees who are ill, if they work in positions with primary job duties that can be effectively performed remotely.

Please feel free to contact me at [email or phone number]  with any questions or concerns. Thank you for helping us keep our workplace safe and healthy for all.