An Employee Health Policy is required by NC Food Code

Food workers must NOT be sick while preparing food. Sick employees must let their managers know when they are sick to avoid spreading infections to diners and other staff. Developing an employee health policy that requires staff to let managers know about their illness is an essential step to preventing outbreaks.

Developing an employee health policy – where to start?

1. Talk to your employees about the importance of not working when they are sick. Upon hiring, we recommend that you discuss the importance of employee health and hygiene with new hires. You may use Form 1-A as a guide to have this conversation.
   • Form 1-A
      
2. After talking with employees (or conditional employees) about the importance of NOT being sick on the job, ask them to complete Form 1-B. Form 1-B satisfies the North Carolina requirement for health policy. Keep these records on file to show your health inspector during your routine health inspection.
   • Form 1-B
      
3. If an employee reports being sick, refer to the resources below to help you decide when he or she may return to work. Use the following resources to help make that decision.
    
   • NC Food Code Manual (pages 32–47)
   • FDA Employee Health Handbook – with Decision Trees
   • Quick Reference – Guidance on managing sick employees (NC DPI)
   • or call Environmental Health and Safety at 919-856-7440 for guidance.
      
4. Review the health policy with your staff each year, and have them sign a new policy. Keep the signed agreements on file for your health inspector to review during your routine inspection.
    

Remember, employee health and hygiene is one of the major risk factors for causing foodborne illness.

More resources

To learn more about the importance of food workers employee health and hygiene:

• NC Food Code Manual (pages 32–47)
• FDA Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook