“…Absenteeism is a major concern within the health care workforce, considering that job demands and work environment expose workers to an increased risk of illness and injury (Eriksen, Bruusgaard, & Knardahl, 2003; Thomson, 2005). The health care workforce, including, physicians, registered nurses (RNs), patient care assistants, therapists (especially respiratory), and front‐line administrative staff, have an increased exposure to infectious diseases compared with the typical working population, but with varying degrees depending on the work conditions and the level of patient contact (Sepkowitz, 1996; Stone, 2000). For the purpose of this document, health care workers (HCWs) include all hospital employees who have the ability to acquire or transmit infectious agents during the course of their work (e.g., physicians, nurses, therapists, cleaning/maintenance staff, patient care assistants, clerks, and technologists).…”