The latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has barely been
contained, yet employers are now being hit with employee inquiries
related to monkeypox. As this virus spreads, states and
localities are declaring emergencies while employers are struggling
to determine how to respond to this new challenge, including what
steps they should take to protect their employees in the face of
potential outbreaks.
The good news is that, unlike COVID-19, the monkeypox virus is
not as transmissible in the workplace, medical experts are more
familiar with the virus's transmissibility and symptoms
(because it is not a “novel” virus) and vaccines for
monkeypox already exist. Employers should note, however, that the
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) requires them to
maintain a safe workplace for all employees and in all places of
employment, and that individuals infected with monkeypox may
require a longer recovery period as compared to COVID-19 and other
common viruses.
