Faced with the coronavirus, employer or employee, what can you do?

With the coronavirus, fever rises, and never solely these of contaminated folks. Whereas we depend on the time of this writing 38 instances of contagion and a pair of deaths because the alert was launched, the Minister of Labor Muriel PENICAUD and his counterpart in solidarity and well being Oliver VERON obtain the social companions this Friday to take inventory of the measures to be taken in regards to the coronavirus in corporations and keep away from, exactly, that the spirits don’t warmth up a bit an excessive amount of.

Certainly, "occupational physicians are receiving an increasing number of calls from workers who ask them questions concerning the mode of transmission of the coronavirus, its signs, …"explains the Vice President of the Nationwide Affiliation of Administrators of Human Assets Benoît SERRE, whereas the employers fear as it’s their accountability to implement all of the measures crucial to make sure security and shield well being workers in corporations.

Coronavirus: what’s the precautionary precept tailored to coronavirus?

The precautionary precept is basically widespread sense. It’s for the employer and for every worker as a citizen to place in place all of the means to keep away from chain contamination, that’s to say to place in place all of the means to restrict the utmost potential infections.

Concretely, it’s subsequently for every worker as for the employers to undertake the gestures making it potential to restrict or get rid of the dangers of contagion.

What’s Covid-19 Coronavirus and what are its signs?

Coronaviruses are half of a big household of viruses that trigger sicknesses starting from the widespread chilly (and sure: some seasonal colds are Coronaviruses) to far more extreme pathologies such because the notorious SARS and MERS.

As with a extreme chilly, the primary signs of COVID-19 coronavirus are fever (or a sense of fever) and indicators of respiratory difficulties corresponding to coughing or shortness of breath offered they’re felt inside 14 days of coming back from an space the place the virus is circulating and / or contact with an contaminated individual (up to now, the areas of unfold of the coronavirus are mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, South Korea, Iran and the areas of Lombardy and Veneto in Italy).

How is Covid-19 Coronavirus transmitted and the way do I do know if I’ve it?

The COVID-19 Coronavirus is transmitted by droplets emitted by a sick individual, particularly throughout shut contact (cough, postillions, projection of saliva, …). It’s subsequently essential to have shut contact with a sick individual to be contaminated: similar place of life, direct contact inside 1 meter throughout a cough, sneeze or dialogue within the absence of technique of safety.

You’ll subsequently be thought-about as a "contact case" and subsequently in danger if:

– you shared the identical place of life because the sick affected person when the latter offered signs

– you had direct contact, head to head, lower than one meter from the sick affected person throughout a cough, sneeze or throughout a dialogue,

– you bought in contact together with your flirtations and shut pals

– you could have contacted your class or workplace neighbors

– you’re a neighbor of the sick affected person on a practice, an airplane, or in the event you stayed in a confined area with him (particular person automotive, presumably carry, …).

Signs can seem as much as 14 full days after this contact and usually manifest themselves most frequently with fever accompanied by cough.

The COVID-19 Coronavirus diagnostic exams are carried out in all referral well being institutions, solely in case of suspected illness validated by the SAMU or a referent infectiologist, it being understood that the time to acquire a result’s three to five hours.

What occurs in case you are thought-about a contact case or a suspect case in France?

If unsure, you’ll be able to contact your physician or the devoted toll-free quantity 0800 130 00. The well being authorities will assess your publicity and your threat of contamination with you and can let you know what to do.

The primary goal can be to test whether or not you could have been contaminated or not. In case of signs it will likely be a query of diagnosing you rapidly with the intention to rapidly give you the absolute best care and, within the absence of a identified symptom of Coronavirus COVID-19, it will likely be a query of monitoring throughout 14 days after the final contact vulnerable to the potential look of signs corresponding to respiratory difficulties (shortness of breath, cough, and so on.) and / or fever or feeling of fever.

In case you have been recognized by a physician or the SAMU, you can be linked with an infectious illness specialist to find out whether or not or not you’re a potential case. If that is so, you can be instantly taken care of and remoted in an infectious illness service. In any other case, you can be redirected to your physician.

What are the barrier gestures to undertake, particularly in enterprise?

Confronted with the Covid-19 coronavirus, the actions to be taken are the identical as going through every virus, whether or not it’s the flu or gastroenteritis, for instance:

– wash your arms repeatedly

– cough or sneeze in his elbow

– use disposable tissues

– put on a masks when you find yourself sick.

What measures can corporations take to guard workers from the Coronavirus COVID-19?

This Friday, February 28, previous to the assembly on the Ministry of Labor regarding the administration of the disaster associated to the Coronavirus COVID-19, Geoffroy ROUX president of MEDEF had expressed throughout an interview for France Inter a priority shared by plenty of heads firm: "How you can do for workers who’ve gone on trip (in threat areas) " ?

A priority that has clearly been heard since, on the finish of the assembly, the Minister of Financial system and Funds Bruno LEMAIRE introduced that the coronavirus can be good "thought-about a case of pressure majeure for corporations".

Coronavirus within the office: keep in mind fundamental hygiene measures.

Article L.4121-1 of the Labor Code stipulates that employers should take all crucial measures to make sure security and shield the bodily and psychological well being of staff.

Step one to take as an entrepreneur within the occasion of an epidemic or the danger of an epidemic, whether or not it’s Coronavirus COVID-19 or an episode of gastroenteritis , is subsequently a reminder of fundamental hygiene guidelines (hand washing, …) and presumably make masks obtainable.

The problem within the case of a coronavirus kind virus is that the transmission takes place by contact via the postillions. Nonetheless, the employer can’t pressure all of its workers to work with a masks, these truly serving sick folks with the intention to keep away from exposing these round them.

Nonetheless, within the occasion of contamination of an worker and whether it is confirmed that it was carried out on the office, the employer could also be liable, the appreciation of the danger altering nevertheless each day .

Some corporations additionally wished to indicate their workers that they have been anticipating issues in case France entered the pandemic part by, for instance, sending an e mail to their workers explaining that workers with signs of fever and cough or respiratory difficulties are dedicated to confining oneself to a person workplace or assembly room by limiting contact and to calling the medical service, occupational drugs or the emergency hotline 0800 130 00zero.

Coronavirus: postpone enterprise journey in threat areas.

Bruno SERRE, vice-president of the ADNRH, notes that corporations whose workers journey internationally are additionally enjoying the warning card by suspending enterprise journey in areas thought-about in danger up to now (editor's word: up to now, the areas of unfold of the coronavirus are mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Singapore, South Korea, Iran and the areas of Lombardy and Veneto in Italy).

Thus, the L'OREAL Group mentioned on Thursday that it had suspended all enterprise journeys by its workers till the top of March, given the danger of the virus epidemic spreading. Tuesday, February 25, it was the meals big NESTLE who introduced the suspension of all enterprise journey till March 15.

Notice that workers whose journeys aren’t canceled or postponed may refuse to honor their mission by invoking the right of withdrawal. See our information on this level.

Can corporations mechanically repatriate workers working in a threat space and their households?

What about French workers working in a threat zone, Macao, Singapore, China or Veneto for instance? Can or should their employer pressure them to return, and below what situations?

In actual fact, all of it depends upon the framework by which French workers have been introduced to hold out their missions overseas. Both they’re expatriate workers having concluded an addendum to their employment contract stipulating a regular train of their missions overseas, or they’re workers exercising a selected mission throughout the framework of a mobility clause or of a selected mission for instance.

Within the first case, in case you are an expatriate worker and topic to the drafting of your employment contract, it’s possible that your employer can’t mechanically repatriate you, the place of efficiency of the contract being a necessary situation of the contract and its modification supposing your agreement.

Within the second case, alternatively, in case you are overseas on a easy advert hoc mission (inspection, audit, …), repatriation will fall below the administration energy of the employer, who could subsequently impose it on the worker.

Notice that, whatever the context by which you have been delivered to work overseas, whether or not it’s an expatriate contract or a one-off mission, repatriation is at all times the accountability of the employer.

Can the employer oblige his workers to execute their work contract throughout the framework of teleworking taking into consideration the danger of contagion of the coronavirus?

Telework is certainly one of many suggestions formulated by the Authorities: "at any time when potential, favor teleworking and keep away from shut contact (conferences, elevators, canteen, …)".

"The implementation of telework in distinctive circumstances corresponding to a risk of epidemic is furthermore thought-about as an adjustment of the work station made essential to train the continuity of the exercise of the corporate and ensures the safety of workers "assures Master Stephan FARINA, labor lawyer in Lille, topic to comply with obligations in this area.

Nonetheless, not all trades lend themselves to telework. Troublesome certainly to think about a hairdresser, a bartender, a employee or a driver requesting a telework measure … Likewise, workers confined by choice of the ARS can’t telework insofar as it’s a query of '' a traditional work stoppage, obeying the identical guidelines as a standard sick go away, even when the worker just isn’t truly sick.

Notice that, if an employer can’t pressure all of its workers to telework, in the identical manner an worker can’t impose telework on his employer on the grounds that he fears contamination …

Can an employer mechanically quarantine an worker suspected of being contaminated?

The employer has an obligation of safety vis-à-vis all of his workers, that’s to say, within the context of a risk of epidemic, that he should implement all measures crucial with the intention to keep away from contamination and subsequently maintain staff in danger away.

Nonetheless, the employer can’t ask one in every of his workers to not come to work due to a easy suspicion of contamination. On this case, he might be accused of discrimination due to his state of well being, which is liable to be penalized earlier than the Industrial Court docket, the stigmatized worker can then report back to the Economic Social Committee (As a reminder, the CSE has introduced collectively since January 1, 2020 all worker representatives: worker representatives, works council and CHSCT).

What ought to the employer do when an worker returns from a threat zone?

Regardless of the cause why the worker went to a threat zone, whether or not it’s a trip, a seminar or a enterprise journey, he should inform his employer when he returns and perform a medical examination.

Given the precautionary precept, the healthcare skilled will definitely determine to put him in confinement at dwelling with the intention to keep away from any threat of contamination for a most of 14 days from the final suspicious contact.

The worker will be unable to work or telecommute, the employment contract being suspended, alternatively he’ll have the ability to contact every day allowances supported by the Social Safety as from the primary day of deficiency because the Authorities printed on February 1 a decree opening the correct to every day allowances from the primary day of arrest for uncovered individuals who could be pressured to remain at dwelling. (To go additional, see our information on the topic).

What are the precautions that workers can take to make sure their safety within the context of the danger of spreading the Coronavirus COVID-19?

As confronted with any threat of epidemic, the primary measure to observe for workers is to respect fundamental hygiene guidelines: wash your arms repeatedly and / or use a hydroalcoholic disinfectant gel, cough or sneeze into your elbow, use disposable handkerchiefs, …

Ought to an worker inform his employer within the occasion of dangerous contact or if he suspects one in every of his colleagues?

If employers are chargeable for the well being and security of their workers, the very fact stays that also they are chargeable for their actions, particularly in the direction of themselves and their workers. In different phrases, every worker stays a accountable citizen and, as such, should use all means to protect the well being and security of others or, on the very least, should chorus from hazard third events like himself.

Thus, below article L.4122-1 of the Labor Code, "it’s the accountability of every employee to take care, in response to his coaching and in response to his prospects, of his well being and security in addition to that of the opposite individuals involved by his acts or omissions at work".

Within the context of the danger of an epidemic linked to the Coronavirus COVID-19, any worker who returns from a threat zone, regardless of the cause for his journey, is obliged to tell his superiors. In any other case, he commits a fault liable to be penalized as a breach of his safety obligation.

The identical is true for an worker who doesn’t respect the containment measures put in place by his firm or who doesn’t inform his superiors within the occasion of suspicion following a probably dangerous contact or following suspicious indicators within the office. one in every of his colleagues.

Can an worker train his proper of withdrawal to guard himself within the context of the danger of an epidemic of the COVID-19 coronavirus?

When a scenario presents a severe and imminent hazard to his well being, his security or his life, any worker can go away his work station or refuse to go there. Watch out nevertheless: the danger of an epidemic as such doesn’t justify the truth that an worker decides to remain at dwelling by making use of the correct of withdrawal.

If there’s a dispute, it will likely be as much as the decide to evaluate whether or not the worker had legit causes for seeing a hazard. Consequently, the straightforward incontrovertible fact that the danger of contagion exists just isn’t ample, in itself, to justify the refusal of the worker to train his missions or to come back to his publish. In addition to the truth that the corporate doesn’t present its workers with protecting masks.

However, the worker could for instance refuse to go to a threat zone or refuse to come back to work within the firm if the latter doesn’t put in place enough containment measures for folks coming back from threat zones for instance .

Can an worker refuse to go to a threat zone within the context of the COVID-19 coronavirus?

The COVID-19 coronavirus constituting a risk to the well being and security of the worker, the latter can legitimately refuse skilled journey by asserting his proper of withdrawal with out incurring any penalty or lack of wage and with none specific method if this isn’t the case. is to inform (ideally in writing) his employer.

Equally, if the corporate doesn’t provide an worker working in an space in danger to repatriate him, the latter can train his proper of withdrawal, whether or not it’s an expatriate worker or an executing worker a one-off mission, repatriation being made on the employer's expense.

Does the worker need to or can he respect the containment measures imposed by the ARS and / or his employer?

Once more, if the employer is chargeable for the well being and security of his workers, article L.4122-1 of the Labor Code remembers that this accountability additionally falls to every worker who should care for his well being and his safety "in addition to these of different folks affected by his acts or omissions at work ".

An worker who would expose his colleagues as a result of coming back from a threat zone he wouldn’t respect the suggestions of the ARS, as a result of he wouldn’t respect the duty to tell his employer of his potential contamination or that he wouldn’t respect the opinion of the occupational physician by refusing to be confined, for instance, could be chargeable for knowledgeable misconduct.

As such, it might be topic to disciplinary sanctions, but additionally monetary from the CPAM.

In any case, you will need to understand that the COVID-19 coronavirus is a part of the identical massive household as colds. It could possibly actually be harmful, particularly for folks in danger, the aged, youngsters, infants and pregnant ladies, nevertheless it may be higher contained due to compliance with fundamental hygiene guidelines.

Occupational well being is everybody's enterprise. Regardless of the epidemic threat concerned.

Ingrid TRONET

TRONET TIPS