According
to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the H1N1 virus — the so-called “Swine Flu”
— isn’t any more deadly than a seasonal flu, but it is transmitted more easily.
Employers play a vital role in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus and
Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to bolster the workplace
against the threat of flu this winter.
According
to the Center for Disease Control, seasonal flu causes 200,000 hospitalizations
and 36,000 deaths every year on average. The
H1N1 flu is having a marked impact on the number of reported cases this year
and the Center for Disease Control reported in September that 21 states were
reporting widespread influenza activity—the vast majority of cases are being identified
as the H1N1 strain.
“Any
places where a lot of people congregate, such as the workplace, become hot
spots for spreading the flu virus,” said Frank Whitney, CEO of the MidCal BBB
“Employers can take a few easy steps to significantly diminish the risk of
spreading the virus around the office which will help keep employees healthy
and the business operating through a tough flu season.”
BBB
offers the following advice to business owners on how to prepare for the
upcoming flu season and a potential H1N1 flu outbreak:
Encourage employees
who are feeling sick to stay home. The CDC strongly recommends that employees
who have flu-like symptoms should stay home until at least 24 hours after they
no longer have a fever. This will reduce the risk of spreading viruses to other
employees.
Employers
can encourage employees to stay home by allowing flexible leave or alternate
work schedules to facilitate employees taking care of their own health and that
of their families. CDC also recommends not requiring a doctor’s note for
employees with flu-like symptoms.
Remind employees of
habits for good hygiene. Good hygiene
will greatly help prevent the spread of germs and viruses throughout the
office. CDC encourages employers to offer
education on hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes in an
easy-to-understand format and in appropriate languages. Also consider providing
hand sanitizer, no-touch trash cans, and tissues.
The
CDC also recommends that employers encourage staff to get vaccinated for both
the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu virus.
Prepare a business continuation plan.
Following
a disaster, 25 percent of all businesses that close never reopen and that
number jumps to 50 percent of businesses that don’t have a continuation of operations
plan, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
A
business continuation plan would help direct employees and management on steps
to take if key leadership becomes sick or if a major catastrophe temporarily
prevents business operations. Because large numbers of staff could contract the
flu, employers should ensure the business can continue operating by training other
employees to step in if key staff should become ill. Learn
more from BBB about developing a Business Continuation Plan.
For
more advice on preparing your business for the flu season, visit the CDC’s Web
site, www.flu.gov.
For
additional advice from BBB on managing a business, visit www.bbb.org.