[MCOH-EH] [EXTERNAL] Return to work following infectious disease exposures

[Swift, Melanie D., M.D., M.P.H.]

Many places use administrative leave for mandatory quarantine following a work-related exposure. Some require the employee use their PTO or go unpaid if the quarantine was necessitated by the employee’s noncompliance with immunization/screening requirements (e.g. varicella exposure.)

Last year MN passed a new law requiring that employers provide “Earned Sick and Safe Time” – a form of paid leave up to 48 hrs/year that can be used for quarantine or infectious illness. It basically sets a minimum requirement for paid sick leave and expands what the employer needs to cover with their sick leave/PTO policy. https://www.dli.mn.gov/sick-leave

Melanie

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces+swift.melanie=mayo.edu at mylist.net> On Behalf Of Enass Awad
Sent: Wednesday, March 25, 2026 11:04 AM
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [MCOH-EH] Return to work following infectious disease exposures

External Email Notice: This message was sent by someone outside Mayo Clinic.
Good morning MCOH/E:
  I was curious to know what type of leaves you assign employees who have a work related infectious disease exposure and are instructed to stay home by employee health .

  Obviously , if through WC , it will only be compensable if they develop the infection and a true causative link is established.

  In some cases , employees will be kept off work pending results of their testing but if they test negative , they have to use sick time since their claim will most likely be denied .

  Are there any other types of leaves they can ge eligible for without having to drain their sick hours ?

Thanks ,

Enass Awad A/Rahman,MD,MPH, FACOEM
UC Davis Health
Sacramento, CA, 95817


"We can enrich the world if we choose to embrace our similarities; we can destroy the world if we choose to emphasize our differences."
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