We have entered peak flu season so you may be seeing more and more employees showing up to work congested, sniffly, and coughing. The impact that the flu has on the health of people in the workplace is significant. The CDC estimates $7 billion lost in productivity and sick days, every year, due to the flu.1 But there are many ways to prevent the spread of illness in the workplace and stay healthy, this winter germ season.
Here are five tips for employers to promote a healthy, productive work environment:
1. Promote good hand hygiene
Health experts know that more than 80 percent of illnesses can be transmitted by hands.2 The CDC recommends hand hygiene – handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water are not available – as one of the most important steps to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others.3
It’s important to have your employees equipped with the proper tools. A study conducted by Medical Mutual of Ohio and GOJO was the first to prove a direct link between the availability of a comprehensive hand hygiene program and a reduction in healthcare insurance claims, tied to hand hygiene preventable illnesses.4 Promoting hand hygiene in the office directly correlates to less absenteeism in the workplace.
2. Disinfect commonly touched areas
Since so many illnesses are transmitted by touch, it’s important to clean objects and surfaces employees frequently encounter. Disinfecting items around the office, such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, etc., as well as encouraging employees to disinfect items in their immediate work area, like their desk, computer and keyboard, can break the cycle of infection. Disinfecting these surfaces and objects helps eliminate the number of germs that are passed around and picked up by others
3. It’s not too late to get vaccinated
According to the CDC, the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year.5 Although the CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October, getting vaccinated later can still be beneficial. The flu vaccine reduces your risk of getting sick with the flu and can reduce the severity of your illness if you do develop the flu.6 Since flu activity peaks between December and February and can last as late as May, it’s not too late to get vaccinated.7
When preparing for next year’s cold and flu season, consider options that are most convenient for your employees. Offering free on-site flu vaccinations at the workplace and making annual flu vaccination part of your workplace wellness program offers many benefits to you and your employees. Also, vaccinations are often already covered under employee health plans. If on-site vaccinations are not an option, encourage employees to seek flu vaccination in the community.
4. Stay home – educate employees on sick policies
In a recent study conducted by Accountemps, 90 percent of professionals admitted they've at least sometimes come to the office with cold or flu symptoms.8 The study showed that more than half of those who report to the office with a cold or the flu (54 percent) said they do so because they have too much work on their plate, while one-third (34 percent) said they feel pressure from their employer to be present.
An important way to reduce the spread of flu is to keep sick people away from those who are healthy. Employers should review and communicate their sick leave policies and practices to employees every year, as well as encourage employees to work from home, when allowed, if they’re feeling under the weather and let them know missing time at work will not negatively affect them.
The CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicine) except to get medical care or for other necessities.9 Encourage your employees to be a hero to their co-workers, stay at home when you’re sick.
5. Set your employees up for success with the PURELL® Solution
8 out of 10 employees indicate having PURELL® products throughout the office positively impacts their impression of their employer.10 Provide employees with freedom to interact with co-workers and surroundings without worrying about germs by stocking up around the office.
The Medical Mutual of Ohio and GOJO study referenced earlier showed that implementing a comprehensive hand hygiene program throughout the workspace – where permanent workspaces are increasingly giving way to shared, community-based areas – reduced related healthcare claims by over 24 percent and reduced absenteeism by over 13 percent.4 This reduction in claims means that implementation not only pays for itself with hard cost savings, but also is the right thing to do for employees and tenants.
Ready access to PURELL® products provides the gift of well-being to every member of your workforce, while enhancing their opinion of both you and their physical work space. Place product at all desks, restrooms, and common areas – such as meeting rooms, cafeterias, and lobbies – for a comprehensive hand hygiene solution.
For resources to raise awareness for hygiene and help decrease the spread of germs that cause illness during the winter germ season, visit http://gojo.com/en/Corporate-Hand-Hygiene-Hub/Cold-And-Flu.
Watch the recent NBC News report, “As flu season ramps up, doctors warn sick employees to stay home.”