Healthy at Work - Seasonal flu
Around 172 million working days were lost in 2007 due to illness which cost employers £13 billion. The most common cause of absence is minor illnesses such as colds and flu.
For most people catching seasonal flu is an unpleasant experience and not necessarily serious but for older people, carers and those with long term medical conditions, the infection can be more serious and lead to complications.
Catch it, bin it, kill it!
Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing, use a tissue and dispose of it immediately to kill any germs and wash your hands regularly. Encouraging good hygiene amongst your staff will help to stop the spread of infection.
Jab out flu at work
Some organisations choose to pay for their staff to receive a flu vaccination where they are not entitled to a free one. They consider that the cost to the business of paying for this service, which can vary between providers, is less than the cost of lost business and/or paying for temporary staff when employees are off sick with flu.
