10 ways to protect your workplace this flu season

If your workplace hasn’t already started planning ahead for flu season 2024/25, it’s time to take action. Because flu doesn’t just have the potential to affect an employee’s health, it has the potential to negatively impact your business too. According to new research, an estimated 2.4 million working adults contract seasonal influenza in the UK each year. That equates to a staggering 4.8 million lost working days and costs the UK economy £644m per year. Is your business prepared to take that hit? If not, here are some suggestions from the Occupational Health team at YourGP to protect your workplace:

1. Educate your team about the seriousness of flu

Some of your employees may be unaware of the seriousness of the flu and the complications it can potentially cause. Typical symptoms of the flu include a high temperature, tiredness, body aches, dry cough, sore throat and headache. Whilst unpleasant, these symptoms usually disappear after around seven days of rest. For some people, however, the flu virus can be much more serious. It can make chronic medical problems worse and it can trigger an extreme inflammatory response in the body and lead to sepsis. Those most at risk include pregnant women, people with pre-existing long term medical conditions e.g., COPD, asthma, heart and kidney problems, and those with lowered immunity due to disease or medication e.g., long term steroids and chemotherapy. Every year, the flu virus kills 11,000 people and hospitalises thousands more. It’s therefore important to educate your team so they’re aware that the flu is very different to the common cold.

2. Stamp out presenteeism

All too often, we see people heading into work despite feeling unwell because they think they have to for the sake of their career. But when it comes to the flu, resting at home is essential. This not only gives the employee’s body a chance to recuperate, it also reduces the risk of the virus spreading. Your workplace policy should make it clear that if an employee is sick, they should stay at home. If they feel well enough to work, you could consider flexible options such as remote working until they have fully recovered.

3. Promote regular hand washing

Washing your hands thoroughly and regularly is a good way to reduce the risk of the virus spreading from person to person, so add signs to staff toilets and ensure there is plenty of soap and hand sanitiser readily available to all.

4. Remember, coughs and sneezes spread diseases

Encourage everyone to cover their mouth when coughing, sneeze into tissues and bin immediately.

5. Keep all equipment clean

Staff equipment such as keyboards and telephones, worktops in staff kitchens and communal dining tables should all be cleaned thoroughly and regularly to prevent the spread of viruses.

6. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

The flu virus is highly contagious and can be passed from person to person through airborne droplets which can enter the body through the eyes, nose and mouth so avoid touching these areas as much as possible.

7. Let the fresh air in

Open office windows regularly to allow fresh air to flow throughout the workplace and prevent flu virus particles from building up.

8. Wear a mask

Some employees working in close contact with others may feel more comfortable wearing a mask as this can help to reduce the risk of infection.

9. Promote a healthy culture

Spread awareness of the need for a balanced diet and regular exercise to help your team stand a better chance of fending off infections. Some companies do this by ensuring there is always a supply of fresh fruit in the staff room and others incentivise walking and cycling to work, for example.

10. Get vaccinated

One of the best ways to protect your workplace during flu season is to get vaccinated. Crucially, it is essential that you do this every year. That’s because the flu virus continually mutates. Current vaccines provide protection against four strains of the flu virus that are expected to be the most common this season. It is also important to understand that the flu vaccination typically takes 2-4 weeks to be effective so it’s best to get vaccinated as soon as possible so you and your team can be protected throughout the whole flu season.

On-site corporate flu vaccinations from YourGP

At YourGP, we aim to make the process of vaccinating your team as easy as possible. There’s no need to worry about individual employees taking time out at various points over the next few months and disrupting work schedules. Instead, a fully qualified nurse can come to your place of work to administer the flu vaccine to everyone at a time that suits you. Here’s how it works:

• We will provide you with a blank clinic template, allowing you to allocate each staff member an appointment slot. Alternatively, we can organise the clinic directly with your staff if you prefer.
• We will send you our flu consent form, which your staff can complete ahead of the corporate flu clinic date.
• We will organise one of our nurses (plus admin support if necessary) to attend your company premises and administer the flu vaccine to all staff who wish to receive it.
• The vaccination only takes a few minutes to administer and the vast majority of people will not experience any side-effects, so they can get back to work within minutes, safe in the knowledge they are protected this winter.

Find out more

Bookings for on-site corporate flu vaccinations are now open for 2024/25. For further information, simply call 0131 381 0322 or email occhealth@your.gp and we’ll be happy to help protect your team this winter.