How Summer Illnesses Can Disrupt Your Workplace (And How to Prevent It)saz
Summer is a time for vacations, travel, and a break from the everyday—but it’s also a season when infectious diseases can quietly follow people back to work. From the flu to norovirus and even more serious infections like dengue or hepatitis A, these summer illnesses don’t just affect individuals—they can disrupt entire teams.
As workplaces become more mobile and connected, a single employee returning from their vacation sick can unintentionally impact operations, productivity, and health outcomes for others. Here’s what you need to know—and do—to prevent the spread.
Why Summer Travel Increases Workplace Risk
When people travel, they encounter new environments, crowded spaces, and different disease exposures. Airports, cruise ships, hotels, and even family gatherings can be hotspots for transmission. Add warmer temperatures, which create ideal conditions for mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue, and you have a perfect recipe for workplace disruption.
Summer illnesses like influenza (yes, it circulates even in warm weather), norovirus, hepatitis A, and measles are all known to spike with increased travel. A few key exposures during vacation can lead to multiple days of illness and potential spread to coworkers.
The Cost of Ignoring It
If just one employee returns from a trip feeling “a little off” and powers through their workweek, the results can ripple:
- Entire teams may be exposed before symptoms even show.
- Others may need to quarantine or take sick leave.
- Projects can stall due to unexpected absences.
- Clients or customers could be affected if public-facing staff are involved.
Ignoring post-travel illness doesn’t just affect health—it affects operations and morale.
Consider Your Most Vulnerable Team Members
Some illnesses that may be mild for one person can be serious—or even life-threatening—for others. Summer infections pose increased risks to:
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Pregnant employees
- Older adults
- Workers with chronic conditions like asthma, diabetes, or heart disease
By building policies that protect everyone, workplaces demonstrate true care and responsibility.
Common Summer Illnesses to Watch For
Not all summer sickness is “just a cold.” Here are a few summer common diseases that can be brought into the workplace:
- Flu: Especially common on flights or in close-contact environments
- Norovirus: Highly contagious, spreads through food and surfaces
- Hepatitis A: Transmitted via contaminated food or water, common in some travel destinations
- Dengue: Spread by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions
- Measles: Extremely contagious and preventable with vaccination
Symptoms to watch for: fever, rash, gastrointestinal distress, fatigue, cough, and sore throat.
Creating an Illness Prevention Plan for the Workplace
Having an illness prevention plan helps teams proactively manage risk before and after employee travel. A strong plan includes:
- Pre-travel reminders about vaccinations and hygiene.
- A checklist of post-travel symptoms to monitor.
- Clear communication channels to report feeling unwell.
- Supportive sick-leave policies that discourage presenteeism.
Encourage employees to take time off when needed—and return only when they’re no longer contagious.
What Your Workplace Sickness Policy Should Cover
A solid workplace sickness policy should go beyond general rules and include:
- Specific guidance for post-travel monitoring.
- When to stay home and when to return.
- Mask use during uncertain or symptomatic periods.
- Expectations for reporting symptoms after trips.
Setting expectations early empowers your team to make health-conscious decisions without fear or confusion.
The Bottom Line: Proactive Beats Reactive
Workplaces can’t control what happens during summer travel, but they can control how they respond. With clear policies, open communication, and a culture prioritizing health, your team can enjoy the season and stay productive.
Need help getting started? Download our Summer Travel Health Checklist or become a Commit to C.A.R.E. partner to access even more science-backed tools.
This article is part of Commit to C.A.R.E.’s Summer 2025 Campaign: Protecting Workplaces Through Awareness, Prevention, and Partnership.