Infectious Disease: Protecting Workers and Organizations-The Role of Compensation & Benefits

Abstract

Infectious diseases at work can be endemic such as seasonal influenza and emerging such as the novel coronavirus 2019. Infectious diseases have an impact on employees and other types of workers. Compensation and benefits professionals are often at the forefront of preventing workplace infections, addressing workplace infections, and ensuring the continuity of talent when workplace outbreaks and business shutdowns occur. This article provides an overview of pertinent laws, key compensation decisions, and ways to refocus existing benefit programs to meet the challenge of not only just safety, health, and wellness but also infection prevention and control.

Access to Employer Benefits and Financial Insecurity Among Frontline Healthcare Workers

“…Not missing a day’s pay due to a child’s illness will make it easier to buy food than a pay advance. Offering paid leave also has important implications for controlling the spread of communicable diseases (Marty Martin et al, 2021). For the third of FHWs without college degrees and other lower-wage employees who pay $400 or more per month on health insurance, employers can use wage-tiered employee premiums to make insurance more affordable.…”