One of the biggest concerns facing employers this time of year is the spread of the flu and in particular, the threat of H1N1 virus. Companies may face huge increases in absenteeism and are being advised to take precautions by implementing a plan in advance. This year, employers may also want to consider an alternative or revised sick leave plan, as it is important that ill workers feel able to stay home without any retribution. It is important to not have employees return to work too early when they might still be contagious or may not have fully recovered from their illness. It may be difficult during these tough economic times to implement flexible leave policies, however, doing so will help prevent an outbreak among your employees, which can be extremely costly to any business.
Below is a sampling of tips distributed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
To Prepare for Heavy Absenteeism:
- Develop flexible leave policies for workers who must stay home to care for other family members.
- Have an understanding of your organization’s normal seasonal absenteeism rates and know how to monitor your personnel for any unusual increases through the fall and winter.
- Cross-train personnel to perform essential functions so the workplace can operate even if key staff members are absent.
- Explore whether you can establish policies and practices such as telecommuting and flexible work hours.
- Ensure that you have the information technology and infrastructure needed to support multiple employees working from home.
To Help Keep Employees Healthy:
- Ask sick workers to stay home for seven days or until they have been symptom-free for 24 hours.
- Encourage hand washing and covering coughs and sneezes.
- Clean commonly touched surfaces regularly.
- Encourage employees to get vaccinated both for the seasonal flu and for H1N1.
- Consider canceling nonessential business travel.
Know the Difference between Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms
| Symptom | Cold | H1N1 Flu |
|---|---|---|
| Fever | Fever is rare with a cold. | Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the flu. |
| Coughing | A hacking, productive (mucus- Coughing producing) cough is often present | A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough). |
| Aches | Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. | Severe aches and pains are common with the flu. |
| Stuffy Nose | Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. |
Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the flu. |
| Chills | Chills are uncommon with a cold. | 60% of people who have the flu experience chills. |
| Tiredness | Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. | Tiredness is moderate to severe with the flu. |
| Sneezing | Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. | Sneezing is not common with the flu. |
| Sudden Symptoms | Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. | The flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains. |
| Headache | A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. | A headache is very common with the flu, present in 80% of flu cases. |
| Sore Throat | Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. | Sore throat is not commonly present with the flu. |
| Chest Discomfort | Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. | Chest discomfort is often severe with the flu. |
- Stephanie O’Dell
