How employers should deal with flu season this year

It is in a company’s best interest to implement a plan to ensure business continuity during this influenza pandemic season. Companies must take a multi level approach, rather than just one or two simple solutions when planning for this flu season.

The first step is to identify the work related risks to the employees and then educate them on those health risks. Create policies around protecting the employees from reprisal for missing work. All jobs need to be secure for the flu season; no one should be fired for missing work due to illness.

Companies should look at options for flexibility, like working from home while sick or working staggered shifts to care for ill family members. Of course these type of flex options are not always appropriate, but perhaps all companies can look at various options for doing business off site, or differently.

Companies need to look at which jobs are essential and which ones can be cross trained, in order to protect the company and its jobs. Companies should look at including a physical distance policy, where suppliers, customers, and co-workers can work at a physical distance needed to protect them from the virus spreading.

Keep the soap flowing, wash often, cough into your sleeve, and use antibacterial wipes on keyboards and phones. Some companies have already suspended non-mandatory travel, and are choosing to Skype or similar instead.

Finally, the most important key for businesses to survive this flu season is to communicate. Create forums for staff to talk about getting sick, or if they are sick, making them feel comfortable in letting others know.

Bosses need to plan for employees taking sick days, planning for others to cover these positions for the short term, and keeping the working staff healthy. No one wants to lose their jobs, and no one wants to get sick. So, keep the communication lines open between all levels and all people. Check on each other and keep people informed.

These steps should get us through this difficult flu season.