5 Ways to Keep Your Employees Healthy During Cold and Flu Season

COVID-19 brought several major changes to the workplace, but none more immediate and long-lasting than the keeping employees healthy in the workplace. The pandemic made it clear: employers play a very direct role in the well-being of their employees. It literalized the connection between the health of a company and the health of its workforce. 

It’s no secret that employees get sick more often during the winter. Some studies predict that sickness absence rates more than double in winter compared to summer. Now, it’s on employers to create a workplace environment that keeps employees safe and healthy during the winter months–and it’s in every employer’s best interest to do so. 

Some estimate that sick employees cost U.S. employers $575 billion a year due to lost productivity. Included in that number is the cost of presenteeism, or when sick workers come into work (due to reluctance to use PTO or fear of a mounting workload)–ultimately spreading sickness and reducing the productivity of those around them.

According to The Shift Project, a Harvard-run survey of 6,600 workers analyzing paid sick leave found that 65% of employees surveyed worked even when they were ill. 

How to Keep Employees Healthy

Follow the tips below to reducing presenteeism and keeping your employees healthy, safe, and productive during cold and flu season to reduce costs: 

1. Create a clear policy around paid sick leave . Discouraging sick employees from coming to work is all about creating a culture in which employees do not feel pressured to come to work or use paid time off. The best way to set that tone? Create a paid sick leave policy in which employees feel empowered to take the recovery time they need without feeling like they’re sacrificing their recreational time off work. 
2. Allow employees to work remotely. Consider offering a work-from-home option for those who feel well enough to continue working but still pose a threat to the wellness of others. Make sure you have a clear policy written into your handbook about WFH options, so employees don’t risk it–and ensure your employees have all the technology required to make this kind of work happen (i.e. a laptop with video conferencing capabilities) so they feel more comfortable taking this option. For a more long-term plan, some companies are taking an even more active role in their employee’s hybrid work schedule by mandating times in which certain teams can come in–an effective strategy for containing the spread of disease to a small group of people. 
3. Shed light on flu shots and vaccines. Studies show that getting vaccinated can reduce illness, doctors’ visits, missed work, and hospitalizations. Encourage employees to get their flu shot and other vaccinations prior to the winter months to protect their coworkers. Share information and statistics about disease prevention via internal communications (email) and company-wide meetings. Some employers even provide flu shots and COVID-19 vaccines on-site at the office. These onsite vaccinations have been proven to help employers save health and absence costs.
4. Make updates to your office. If your company works in the office during cold and flu season, it’s in your best interest to make a few quick updates to your office design to reduce illness. Place more hands-free hand sanitizer dispensers around the office–a proven method for keeping employees healthy. Ensure that everyone has their own desk, phone, and work tools–and that workspaces are adequately spaced to reduce the spread. Regularly clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, and other high-touch areas of the work environment. Finally, consider introducing more touch-free systems into your office, like automatic doors, automatic toilets and sinks, hands-free water dispensers, and more. 
5. Prioritize mental health. Burnout has become an increasingly pressing issue for employees and employees alike for the ways that it reduces productivity, increases turnover, and prevents quality employees from reaching their full potential. Recent studies have also shown that burnout can also cause long-term changes to the body that make employees more vulnerable to illnesses, like colds and flu. Creating a culture of well-being at your organization through flexible work hours, paid time off, paid sick leave, and a team-first mentality will help prevent burnout and, ultimately, more serious physical illnesses. 

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