How to prevent the spread of the virus at work
The flu strikes 10 to 25 per cent of Canadians between November and April, according to Health Canada.
With symptoms ranging from chills, coughs, headaches and fever, it’s often difficult to know how to protect yourself from getting sick and when to stay home from work if you are ill.
According to Trish Stenson, director, clinical services at Ceridian Canada, an employee assistance program provider, there are preventative measures organizations can take to help prevent influenza in the workplace including:
• Encourage employees to get a flu shot from their doctor or set up a program in conjunction with health professionals for employees to get their shots at the office
• Provide employees tips on how to prevent getting the flu
• Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick, especially if their symptoms are flu-like
• Provide handouts on how to wash hands properly
• Provide hand sanitizers in washrooms and other places.
• Promote work-life balance by encouraging employees to take their lunch breaks, step away from their desks periodically to de-stress, and pay attention to eating nutritious food and getting physical activity
• If snacks are a part of the office environment, make sure healthy snacks are available to counter the popular high-sugar content treats
• Discourage the sharing of keyboards, headsets, etc. by providing each employee with his/her own equipment
The best advice to workers experiencing flu-like symptoms is to stay home, says Stenson. With the onset of cold and flu symptoms, employees often drag themselves to work in an attempt to be a good worker.
Today many companies are taking steps to discourage this behaviour, not only does coming to work put co-workers at risk, but work productivity suffers and sick workers are often unable to focus on the tasks at hand.
With symptoms ranging from chills, coughs, headaches and fever, it’s often difficult to know how to protect yourself from getting sick and when to stay home from work if you are ill.
According to Trish Stenson, director, clinical services at Ceridian Canada, an employee assistance program provider, there are preventative measures organizations can take to help prevent influenza in the workplace including:
• Encourage employees to get a flu shot from their doctor or set up a program in conjunction with health professionals for employees to get their shots at the office
• Provide employees tips on how to prevent getting the flu
• Encourage employees to stay home if they are sick, especially if their symptoms are flu-like
• Provide handouts on how to wash hands properly
• Provide hand sanitizers in washrooms and other places.
• Promote work-life balance by encouraging employees to take their lunch breaks, step away from their desks periodically to de-stress, and pay attention to eating nutritious food and getting physical activity
• If snacks are a part of the office environment, make sure healthy snacks are available to counter the popular high-sugar content treats
• Discourage the sharing of keyboards, headsets, etc. by providing each employee with his/her own equipment
The best advice to workers experiencing flu-like symptoms is to stay home, says Stenson. With the onset of cold and flu symptoms, employees often drag themselves to work in an attempt to be a good worker.
Today many companies are taking steps to discourage this behaviour, not only does coming to work put co-workers at risk, but work productivity suffers and sick workers are often unable to focus on the tasks at hand.
