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Hiding COVID-19 in the workplace: Why employers may be keeping quiet about positive cases

After several emails into the KVUE newsroom from concerned employees, a local employment attorney weighed in with tips for navigating tough situations.

AUSTIN, Texas — Whether you're a frontline worker or any employee reporting to work during this pandemic, transparency should be a top priority for employers in order to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in the workplace. 

Austin employment attorney Jennifer Ward said, from a financial standpoint, there could be a few different reasons why an employer isn't being very forthcoming about positive cases with the rest of the staff.

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"Employers are concerned about shutting down because if they have to shut down, nobody will have a job," Ward said.

Ward said a good resource to utilize is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website to file a complaint or to sift through the COVID-19 guidance for different work environments. 

If you confront your employer about testing positive for COVID-19, Ward said you have a right to privacy. 

"It's not appropriate for an employer to share the identity of that person," she said. 

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If you feel someone in your workplace has tested positive for COVID-19 and your employer isn't alerting the rest of the staff, you should first reach out to the employer and document the encounter.

"Start with a conversation to address the issue and then, if needed, you can file a complaint with OSHA or reach out to an attorney," Ward said.

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