Mark Lies Quoted in Human Resource Executive Online

Mark Lies was quoted in the article, “Staph Staffing Problems,” published January 22, 2008 by Human Resource Executive. The article investigates what employers are doing and should be doing concerning Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) as it moves into the workplace from health facilities and schools.

Mark notes, “Over the last two or three weeks I have been getting a number of calls where clients are saying employees are coming in and advising them that they have this type of infection… Then the employer asks the question, ‘What do we have to do?’”

When employers find themselves in such a situation, Mark urges them to calm down. He remarks that he has heard from clients in several different industries who have employees with MRSA, and notes that the key to stopping the infection from spreading is to maintain good sanitation and personal hygiene. Mark observes, “Really, this is basically the transmission of a disease from one person touching another, or contaminating a surface in a washroom.” He tells clients that they have a duty to tell their employees about the MRSA threat and to educate them on ways to avoid being infected. This way, Mark notes, “the employee is in their comfort zone because they know the employer is doing something.” Mark notes that the company should make it clear that medical information will be kept as confidential as possible and that employees won’t face retaliation for reporting any communicable disease, including MRSA, to the proper manager. When MRSA-infected employees refuse to cooperate with the company’s health and safety guidelines, however, “then [an employer needs] to do something about it.” Mark notes, “If they are not going to cooperate, get them out until they are symptom free” by giving them FMLA leave. That way, he states, “At least you remove the employee from the workplace and not infect the other workers, who you also have a duty to protect.”