It's right around the corner and no one is happy about it. Cold and flu season is a winter phenomenon, and when it comes to the workplace, the decision whether or not to go to work is one that causes plenty of stress.
According to a survey done this summer, two out of three (67%) employed Americans admitted they would go to work even if they were feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. The survey, conducted online within the U.S. by Harris Poll on behalf of CVS Health, found the most common factors cited behind this employee decision include:
- Not wanting to use up personal time off (PTO) days (59%)
- Worrying about lost wages (45%)
- Their company/boss expects them to come into work (40%)
Papatya Tankut, vice president, Pharmacy Affairs, at CVS Health, says one way employers can help lessen the chances of employees coming to work and risking the health of co-workers is through boosting awareness.
"An effective way to keep the workplace as germ-free as possible is by educating colleagues on prevention," says Tankut, who recommends hosting flu prevention workshops or spreading the word by sharing informative brochures and articles, telling co-workers about getting a flu shot so they may follow suit and, finally, supplying offices with cleaning products and hand sanitizer.
"Touching everyday office items like door handles, keyboards, printers and other surfaces can be difficult to avoid," Tankut says. "To help combat germs, wash hands frequently – especially after coughing or sneezing – with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and avoid touching your mouth, eyes and nose areas." Alcohol-based soaps and hand sanitizers are especially effective when on-the-go, such as spending the day at an off-site location during work hours.
Sue Blankenhagen, a certified wellness coach & wellness program specialist at Ceridian LifeWorks, says that when cold and flu season hits the workplace, it can have a great impact on business.
"Those illnesses can affect customer relationships, as well as employees and their families, and have a negative impact on productivity," she says. "As a manager, it’s important to be prepared for the possibility that multiple employees will get the seasonal flu this year." Blankenhagen says HR should work with line managers by considering the following preparations:
Familiarize yourself with your organization's sick leave policies and ensure that employees are aware of these policies.
Encourage all employees to get vaccinated - Consider offering employees time off from work to get vaccinated if shots are not offered at the worksite, or offer flu shot vouchers to take to their physician or clinic. Talk to your HR team if you have particular concerns about ways to encourage people to get vaccinated, without overstepping your role.
Make a healthy workplace a priority - Apart from frequent hand washing and using sanitizer, discourage hand-shaking and shared use of pens, computers and other devices. Avoid having community food, such as shared cookies, cakes and chips, in the lunchroom during flu season.
Read and distribute educational materials about the flu through your employee assistance program (EAP) - Encourage your employees to prepare for the possibility that they may develop flu. Planning ahead can help employees feel less anxious if an outbreak occurs.
Reinforce the "stay home" message - Establish this policy now so that if there is a flu outbreak, employees will be sure to stay at home if they get ill or start experiencing any symptoms. People need to understand that it's not heroic to come to work sick when that means putting co-workers and their families at risk of getting the flu.
“One of the most effective ways to prevent yourself against the flu is to get a flu shot every year,” says CVS Health's Tankut, who notes that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in fact, recommends that everyone who is at least 6 months old get a flu shot as soon as the vaccine is available.
Tankut says it’s important to get vaccinated every year because the immunity provided by the vaccine declines over time. It takes up to two weeks for your immunity to build up after getting a flu shot, so consider getting it in the fall, before the typical peak of flu season during winter.