Influenza costs the United States economy billions of dollars each year. In addition to healthcare costs, flu season can cause a major dip in productivity at your place of business. American workers spend essentially one third of their lives working, which is why it’s important for employers to do what they can to curb the spread of germs. Below are some great tips to help protect both your employees and your bottom-line during flu season.
1. Encourage all employees to get a seasonal flu vaccine each fall.
To minimize absenteeism, employers frequently offer onsite seasonal flu vaccinations to employees at no or low cost. This option can work well if you work with an occupational health provider. If you do not, pharmacies and community vaccinators can also be contacted to provide seasonal flu vaccinations on-site.
If hosting one on-site is not possible, make sure you let your employees know where they and their families can get flu vaccines within your community.
2. Promote hand washing and cough etiquette.
Phones, desktops, computer keyboards, door handles – your employees constantly touch things throughout the day. Keeping one’s hands clean is one of the most basic, yet important ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Do so often throughout the day and always after using the restroom, and before and after eating. Also be sure to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, or cough and sneeze into your elbow. Dispose of used tissues in wastebaskets.
It’s also a great idea to have disinfectant wipes around every workstation and to provide hand sanitizer stations outside of the bathroom or around the office. Shared areas such as break rooms, conference rooms, and copy rooms should be wiped down frequently each day.
3. Provide (required) education or training.
To create a healthy workplace, your employees need to be educated on the common flu symptoms. Make sure employees are aware of the proper policies and procedures for reporting flu symptoms, using sick leave, and returning to work.
They should also be educated on who may be high-risk for serious flu complications, such as pregnant women or adults with a chronic medical condition such as asthma, heart disease, or diabetes. Receiving an annual flu vaccine is especially important for these populations.
4. Encourage employees to stay home when they are sick.
Develop and review sick leave policies to ensure employees can stay home when they are sick without fear of any penalties. If an employee appears to have flu symptoms upon arrival or they become sick during the workday, they should be promptly separated from others and asked to go home. Persons with the flu are most contagious during the first 3 days of their illness.
Advise all workers to stay home if they are sick until at least 24 hours after their fever (temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher) is gone without the use of fever-reducing medicines. Note, not everyone with the flu will have a fever. Other symptoms could include a runny nose, body aches, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or vomiting.
5. Promote healthy living.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help protect your employees against the flu. Exercising boosts your immune system. Eating a healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein will give your body a wide array of antioxidants and nutrients. It’s also great to encourage employees to drink plenty of water, get adequate sleep, and try to manage their stress.
Healthy employees affect a company in every way, from productivity to morale. Take action to keep your workforce healthy this flu season today! For more information on the flu and how you can prevent the spread at your place of business, visit cdc.gov/flu/business/.