Flu season can wreak havoc on a business, as we spend more time indoors and germs are more easily spread. For the second year in a row, health professionals are predicting an above-average season for influenza and are urging HR departments to be as prepared as possible. Recent data from the Government of Canada indicates that in the last week of November, 1.4 per cent of the 9,525 FluWatchers survey participants experienced symptoms of cough and fever, and 72 per cent of those people reported missing work or school.

“Ensuring a safe and healthy work environment not only helps maintain productivity and morale but also reduces absenteeism and protects the well-being of employees,” says Pam Patry, Health & Safety Consultant with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS).

Absenteeism can become a serious concern for businesses as managing labour remains challenging for many industries. In order to best “flu-proof” your business, try and adopt a few simple practices this season:

• Identify symptoms early. Symptoms like headaches, chills, body aches, and fatigue can develop throughout the day, often worsening to include a cough and sore throat. Encourage staff experiencing these symptoms to see a doctor immediately to help form an early diagnosis and treatment plan.
• Encourage workplace hygiene practices to help keep everyone protected and safe. Start with hand hygiene by adding signage to remind staff to be vigilant, and add handwashing or disinfectant stations to make it easy for staff to sanitize their hands.
• At this time of year, there are often holiday gatherings like potlucks or people bringing in sweet treats for the team. Try and limit the amount of food sharing to cut down on the risk of sharing germs and infecting large groups.
• Prioritize regular cleaning and sanitization of your facility to help prevent illness and stop the spread of germs. Pay special attention to high-traffic high-touch areas like door handles, keyboards, phones, shared equipment, meeting rooms, and break or lunch areas.
• Training your team about risks and procedures is key, too. Post information about the spread of germs and preventing illness, make handwashing reminders prominent, provide educational resources, and communicate your policies regularly to keep it top of mind. You may even want to consider adjusting the facility layout as a preventative measure, or if an outbreak occurs, to try and minimize the germs spreading through the office.
• Studies show that over 50 per cent of employees will come into work if they’re sick with the flu – and that’s especially true if your company does not have a flexible sick leave or work-from-home policy. Encouraging employees to avoid the office when they are feeling under the weather can help decrease absences throughout your company – a short absence for one employee is far better than weeks of disruptions caused by an internal outbreak and staff staying home on rotation.
• Lead by example by enforcing these policies with management. If employees see their managers in the office when under the weather, they will feel pressure to do the same. Practice sick policies with all staff for a united approach to health and safety.
• As the viral concentration builds up indoors, respiratory viruses can spread more easily through the winter months. Focus on ventilation and improving your indoor air quality with regular HVAC maintenance like replacing air filters and maximizing the IAQ in your building.
• Even by taking all the steps you can, there will still be some absenteeism as flu season continues. Plan for this eventuality by scheduling strategically and effectively managing your labour. If you have access to data from previous years, track any patterns that can help you plan better for the season. This will make it easier to stay profitable while still serving your clients and supporting your staff.

Seasonal influenza costs Canadian workplaces more than 1.5 million lost workdays each year and remains one of the top 10 leading causes of death in Canada. Though we are well into winter, getting ahead of a crisis can help your employees stay healthy, and your business thrive. By planning ahead, instituting policies that work for your business, and prioritizing a “flu-proofing” approach, you can help limit the spread of germs and reduce absenteeism in your company this season.