With the Flu season being in full swing, keeping it and other nasty illnesses out of the office can be a major challenge. According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, an estimated 55 million U.S. employees miss work annually due to an illness with a an estimated economic value loss of $260 billion dollars. Ever wonder how the flu actually gets into your body? Here’s a great video from NPR: So what can you do to keep the flu out of the office? Let’s break it down by steps an employer can ... – Have a clear policy about sickness and how it should be handled by employees. Encourage sick employees to leave the workplace without concerns of lost wages. Would you rather have a single employee out for 5-7 days or a flu outbreak that hits 40% of the office? #2 – Consider offering free flu vaccinations onsite as it’s the single best way to prevent the flu. #3 – Make sure that the bathroom or restroom area is cleaned and disinfected on a daily basis during flu season. Most employees needing to blow or wipe their noses will do so here, and this is typically where the potential for infection is at it’s greatest. #4 – Consider making hand sanitizer available all around the office or even given out out to each employee (if possible). Studies done by various groups including the CDC, indicated that, while hand washing with soap and water is still extremely effective, using alcohol based hand sanitizers WAS effective in reducing the spread ...
