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 General FAQs
 Vaccine mandate FAQs

COVID-19 general FAQs for members

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 Expand/Collapse COVID-19 FAQs (7)
o COVID-19 patient management (3)
o Employer responsibilities (2)
o Ethics (2)
o Family, children and pregnancy (3)
o Health and safety (4)
o Increased work demands (2)
o Leave (3)
o Pandemic governance and responsibilities (8)
o Self isolation (2)
o Vulnerable workers (3)

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FAQs for DHB members during the COVID-

19 crisis
Employee responsibilities in a pandemic situation

Question:

What responsibilities do employees have in a pandemic situation?

Answer:
Under the HSWA employees are required to take reasonable care to ensure the health and safety
of themselves and others by their actions or omissions, and to comply with the
employer’s/business’s reasonable instructions and policies, i.e. follow safe work practices, use
equipment, wear protective equipment or clothing, participate in training, and report hazards,
faulty equipment, an incident or injury.

Employers have an obligation to engage with their workers in all health and safety matters, so it
is important to participate in these discussions within your workplace.

 Employers must give their employees a place to work and make sure they have access to

it. They must give them the tools, equipment and other things they need to do their work. 
 Employers must pay their employees the salary and benefits they agreed
to, including vacation, paid holidays and other types of holidays.  
 Employers must make sure that working conditions protect their employees’ physical and
psychological health and safety.  
 In some cases, employers must give their employees written notice that their contracts
are ending or that they are being laid off. Note that employers can pay employees a sum
of money instead of giving the notice. 
 Employers must treat their employees with respect. They must make sure their
employees are not harassed or discriminated against.
 Employers must take steps when they know, or reasonably should know, that employees
are exposed to domestic, family or sexual violence in the workplace. They must do this
whether the employee is working in the office or working from home.

The employer’s primary duty of care under the HSWA is to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the
health and safety of workers. The HSWA also requires employers to engage with their workers on
decisions that affect their health and safety.