The flu and your workplace

With talk of the H1N1 virus so prevalent in the press, now is a good time to discuss ways to reduce all strains of the flu.  Any variety can run rampant through your organization and keep large groups of employees at home, so you have a vested interest in making an up front investment in keeping a few items on hand:

Hand sanitizer - a quick pump on the go is often easier than a trek to the washroom, making it more convenient and more readily used by staff.  Pair it with a quality hand lotion (in a pump) to increase the usage as most brands of hand sanitizer are drying to the skin reducing its appeal.  Place it near all entrances so that workers who use public transit to commute can access it immediately upon arriving at the workplace, in kitchens, and in other communal areas like meeting rooms, fitness centres, or rest areas if your workplace has them.

Surface disinfectant with bleach to keep machinery or workstations clean between shifts, and in common areas like kitchens and meeting rooms.  Bleach kills 99.9% of bacteria within 10 minutes of application, including those that have become resistant to other forms of antibacterial cleaners.

Your best defense against the flu is a proper sick time plan.  Employees who fear reprisals for not showing up will continue to do so even when they are incapable of doing their job to the proper levels and infect other employees making the overall cost much worse than had they simply stayed home.  Discuss this openly and frankly with employees so that they know what is expected of them in advance of flu season.

What should employees have at home in case of seasonal flu?   Pharmacist Akeel Jaffer (of Shopper's Drug Mart) says that the best home prep kit should contain acetaminophen for pain relief and fever, Gatorade or Pedialyte for dehydration, and that's all.  You can either tell them this information in a handout (perhaps with pay stubs) or even give gift certificates to the closest drug store so they can have it on hand.

Quality multivitamins containing vitamin C and D help boost the immune system before it can be compromised.

Holding a flu vaccination clinic - while this is a slightly controversial option that not all employees will participate in, holding a flu vaccine clinic at your workplace makes it convenient for employees to get their flu shot without having to schedule a doctor's appointment and missing time from work or making additional arrangements do to it on their own time.

See the Public Health Agency of Canada's page on Workplace Clinics for information on setting up a clinic in your workplace.

Posted by: gisela on 2009-09-26 16:23:50

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