Using the FDA Tool To Simplify Food Code Employee Health Policies: Webinar Key Takeaways

By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Managing Editor and Content Strategist

One of the most challenging aspects of food safety is knowing when to exclude or restrict sick employees, and when to allow them to return to work.

The Employee Health Policy Tool from FDA is designed for both managers and employees to help navigate decisions about when to report to work based on symptoms or diagnosis. The step-by-step program makes it easy to make the right decision not only to stay in compliance with the Food Code, but to protect other workers, customers and food in the retail environment.

The National Grocers Association Food Safety Program in partnership with Ecolab, the official food safety partner of NGA, hosted a recent webinar that demonstrated how to use the tool when faced with a decision to exclude or restrict an employee from work. The presentation was led by FDA Retail Food Specialist Katherine Del Mundo and Ecolab VP of Food Safety and Retail Industry Relations Jill Hollingsworth.

Here are some key takeaways from the discussion:

The Employee Health Policy Tool can be found at https://www.fda.gov/food/retail-food-protection/fda-employee-health-policy-tool. The tool itself is a PDF file that can be opened using most document readers. It's designed to help users navigate restriction and exclusion requirements identified in Part 2-201 of the 2022 FDA Food Code using clickable pathways dependent upon the role of the user and the symptoms or diagnoses presented. Del Mundo described it as sort of a "choose your own adventure" application based on specific needs at any given time.

It's designed for both supervisors and employees. The tool offers different pathways for employees reporting that they're ill as well as managers reporting sick team members.

Action depends on circumstances. The tool offers guidance based on the type of illness and whether someone has been diagnosed, is showing symptoms or has just been exposed to someone known to be ill. Each situation may or may not require staying home from work, isolating until symptoms subside or reassignment to restricted duty, among other options. Illnesses may also be required to be reported to local health authorities.

The FDA tool is guidance, not policy. "This is a tool to help you build your own policy," Del Mundo explained, "and drive conversation about employee health."

For more exclusive insights, view a recording of the complete webinar at https://nationalgrocers-my.sharepoint.com/:v:/g/personal/jdudlicek_nationalgrocers_org/EQ4MsDzA8M1Lp1QbQULHcPgB9UbbklLP3eOo8snRlNi36Q?e=LmXimN&nav=eyJyZWZlcnJhbEluZm8iOnsicmVmZXJyYWxBcHAiOiJTdHJlYW1XZWJBcHAiLCJyZWZlcnJhbFZpZXciOiJTaGFyZURpYWxvZy1MaW5rIiwicmVmZXJyYWxBcHBQbGF0Zm9ybSI6IldlYiIsInJlZmVycmFsTW9kZSI6InZpZXcifX0%3D.