Last year’s flu season was one of the worst in recent history. As flu shots become available in the coming weeks, it is a reminder that this cold and flu season is right around the corner. It is imperative that employers prepare now to reduce the chances that their employees will become infected, as well as reduce the chances of a widespread outbreak. Preventative and proactive measures such as these will help manage what could otherwise be a difficult winter in the form of heavy absenteeism and low productivity, all driven as a result of employees becoming ill with the flu.
David Lewis, president and CEO of Operations Inc., a 12-year-old human resources outsourcing and consulting firm, makes the following recommendations to businesses:
- Businesses should encourage their employees to consider getting a flu shot this year, even going so far as to arrange for them at the office, or perhaps covering their cost or reimbursing the expense.
- Employers should become educated on the typical symptoms, so that infected employees can better be spotted that may be at work while infected.
- Many employees feel that they can’t call in sick or use their sick time. Businesses should consider informing their staff that they prefer employees to work remotely and or take a sick day if they fall ill, and send employees home when they demonstrate symptoms so as to ward off the chance of spreading illness to others.
- Employers should emphasize proper hygiene, including ensuring that hand sanitizer is omnipresent in the work space.
David Lewis's firm, Operations Inc. provides HR related services to over 700 clients in the small to mid-sized business space. Lewis has been featured in national publications such as The New York Times, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur, and Forbes. He also has extensive experience in both live television and radio.
Link NBC Connecticut live interview: http://youtu.be/dTcD4XYIk1Q
Current Issue - May 2024