Dear Reader,
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that the seasonal
flu costs American businesses about $10 billion a year.
So how can you "immunize" your company?
The best way to beat the flu is to be prepared, and I hope
you'll enjoy our flu prevention tips in this month's
60 Second Solutions.
Best Regards,
Stephanie Baker
Wood Personnel Services |
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This Month's Solution:
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 The Challenge:
Reduce the cost of seasonal illness
The 60 Second Solution:
Keep your employees healthy!
The flu causes employees to miss an average of 2.8 days of
work per year--not to mention the lost productivity in those
days before and after. So how can you keep your company healthy?
Five tips to reduce sick days:
- Get the flu shot. The viruses selected to be included in
the seasonal flu vaccines are updated each year based on
information about which flu virus strains are identified,
how they are spreading, and how well current vaccine strains
protect against newly identified strains. This year's vaccine
includes the H1N1 strain. Your best bet to avoid a flu outbreak
at your workplace is to have your staff vaccinated. In fact,
you can reduce absenteeism by as much as 45% by doing so.
If you can, go the extra mile and offer an on-site flu shot
clinic at your workplace. Not only will it be more convenient
for your staff--but more employees will get vaccinated.
- Insist upon a clean work environment. In addition to
having your office cleaned regularly, make sure you provide
hand sanitizer, tissues and plenty of soap and paper towels
in the bathrooms.
- Educate employees. It may seem simplistic, but basic
hygiene is the best way to prevent germs from spreading.
Provide your employees with information on "coughing etiquette,"
hand washing, and cleaning surfaces such as phones, doorknobs,
and keyboards.
- Encourage people who are sick to stay home. The last
thing you need this flu season is an "office hero" who comes
in when he/she is sick and then spreads the virus to others.
Encourage people with fevers and flu-like symptoms to stay
home. You might also want to implement flexible leave
policies that allow employees to work from home when they
are sick or when they have sick children.
- Have a contingent workforce plan in place. There are
lots of ways you can deal with worker absenteeism.
But before you're hit with the flu bug, create a plan to
deal with this issue, so you'll know what positions need
to be filled and who to call to get the people you'll need.
And if you need help planning, call Wood Personnel Services.
We can help you create a cost-effective contingent staffing
plan, and we can proactively recruit so that we will be
prepared with high quality fill-ins at a moment's notice.
For more information on flu prevention at your workplace,
check out these sites:
Flu.gov
CDC 2010-2011 Flu Season Guide |
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Click here for a printer-friendly version of this month's
60 Second Solution.
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