The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) revised guidelines May 19 that require employers to determine whether employees who have contracted COVID-19 did so in the workplace. According to OSHA’s record-keeping requirements, employers are required to conduct investigations about the cause of an employee’s infection with certain parameters.

Employers “should not be expected to undertake extensive medical inquiries, given employee privacy concerns and most employers’ lack of experience in this area.” OSHA also notes that it “is sufficient in most circumstances for the employer” to ask the employee how they think they caught COVID-19, “while respecting employee privacy, discuss with the employee his work and out-of-work activities” and review the work environment.”

Details from the International Association of Privacy Professionals.