According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, the H1N1 virus — aka swine flu — isn’t any more deadly than seasonal flu, but it’s transmitted more easily. Employers play a vital role in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus and your Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to bolster the workplace against the threat of flu this winter.
The Center for Disease Control reports that 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 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 Pam King, president/CEO of the BBB serving northern Colorado and greater Wyoming. “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.”
The BBB offers the following advice to business owners on how to deal with the flu season and a potential H1N1 flu outbreak:
- Encourage employees who feel sick to stay home. The CDC strongly recommends that employees with flu-like symptoms 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. Business owners 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 greatly helps 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 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 for businesses that don’t have a continuity plan, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety. A business continuation plan helps 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 continues 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,
flu.gov.
Start With Trust. For more reliable small business advice, go to
wynco.bbb.org or call 970-484-1348 or 800-564-0371 for reliable consumer tips and information.
About the BBB
The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a champion for ethics and trust in the marketplace. Only businesses that meet the high BBB standards are invited to become BBB Accredited Businesses. Today, 128 BBBs across the United States and Canada rate more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities with scores ranging from A to F. Only a BBB Accredited Business may elect to participate in BBBOnLine, one of the most trusted and recognized Internet seal programs in the world.
The BBB serving northern Colorado and Wyoming is trending toward 1 million instances of service to consumers and businesses in 2009. These services include reliability reports on local companies and charities, access to companies that can be trusted by industry, help with dispute resolution, and trustworthy information on consumer and business topics.
Barbara Read, VP Communications Director, 970-488-2035, bread@wynco.bbb.org