Is your business ready for the flu season?

Each year as the flu sweeps through the community, the effects of this highly contagious and severely debilitating illness are felt by not only the individual, but also their employer.

An Australian study found that the flu was responsible for up to 1 million medical consultations, 20,000 - 40,000 hospitalisations, 1,500 deaths and 1.5 million days off work each year.

The economic cost results from increased absenteeism, where up to 10% of all cases associated with illness, is due to influenza.  In addition to days spent away from work, impaired work performance is likely to follow.  In fact, an individual’s productivity can be inversely affected for up to two weeks following infection.

To minimise this significant financial impact, there are a number of preventative measures available for employers.  These strategies will also minimise the transmission of the flu within the workplace.

• Adopt a vaccination program

The flu vaccine is the best defense against contracting the flu.  The World Health Organisation recommends vaccination as the primary and most effective method to prevent outbreaks of the illness. Among healthy adults, the influenza vaccine can prevent between 70-90% of infections.

A study examining the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine found that employees between the ages of 18-64 experienced fewer episodes of upper respiratory tract illness (25%) and fewer days off work as a result of these illnesses (43%).

• Promote good workplace hygiene

The influenza virus can survive for up to an hour in a closed environment like the office, more than 8 hours on hard surfaces (e.g. stainless steel or plastic surfaces) and up to 5 minutes on hands after transfer.

Therefore promote key hygiene practices including hand washing with soap, use of antibacterial gel after coughing / sneezing / touching of the nose and before touching other people or communal objects.

• Offer flexible working arrangements

By offering flexible working arrangements, you will encourage staff to stay at home until fully recovered.  This will also help prevent other employees getting sick.

These preventative measures combined with a comprehensive vaccination program can provide benefit to employees and employers by protecting health and minimising the costs associated with increased absenteeism and lost productivity during the flu season.

Wesley Corporate Health can deliver vaccination programs to your workplace. For an individualised quote for your organisation, please contact Emily Jones on 3234 2604 or visit our website.

References

1. Influenza Specialist Group. 2006. Influenza, A Guide for Occupational Health Professionals, http://www.influenzacentre.org/reports/ohs_06.pdf
2. Solvay S.A. 2010. Economical benefits of influenza vaccination. http://www.solvay-influenza.com/aboutvaccination/economicbenefits/0,,30296-2-0,00.htm
3. World Health Organisation. 2009. Influenza (Seasonal) Fact Sheet No211, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/index.html
4. Influenza Specialist Group. 2010. The Spread of Influenza. http://www.influenzaspecialistgroup.org.au/about-influenza/spread-of-influenza