is your business ready for flu season?

March 29, 2024

Sure, we all know what the flu is. Caused by influenza viruses that impact the nose, throat and the lungs, this highly contagious respiratory illness has a season that usually takes place in the fall and winter and lasts between October and March.¹

Flu symptoms are similar to cold symptoms, but can be more severe. They include:

• Sudden onset of illness
• Fever
• Chills
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Cough
• Body aches
• Tiredness and fatigue
• Vomiting or diarrhea (more common in children)

Beyond how sick the symptoms may make us feel, the flu also has a large impact on our economy. With anywhere from 8 to 11 percent of the population getting the flu each season, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have estimated the total annual direct medical costs to be $3.2 billion dollars annually, while direct costs reached $8 billion dollars.²

The workforce is also significantly impacted by getting the flu. The average worker loses 14 to 24 working hours each year, plus there’s also the chance that they may potentially spread the illness to others, leading to more downtime.²

When flu season gets here, will you know how to protect your workplace and employees from the spread of flu? Good news. We’ve put together some tips so that you can protect your employees and keep your workplace as flu-free as possible. While no method is foolproof, by combining these suggestions, you’ll be doing all you can to keep everyone healthy.

How Does Flu Spread?

Flu viruses spread through the tiny droplets that are created when coughing, sneezing or talking when someone has the flu. When those droplets – which move at high rates of speed – find their way into our mouths or noses, the flu is spread. You may also have a chance of catching the flu when you touch a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touch your own mouth, nose or eyes.

Clean, Disinfect and Sanitize the Workplace

Because the flu virus can stay alive on surfaces for up to 48 hours, it’s important to keep surfaces sanitized.³

But before we go any further, it’s important to know the difference between these three methods of attacking the virus:

• Cleaning is the act of eliminating dirt and germs from surfaces or objects with soap and water. While cleaning by itself doesn't kill germs, it does reduce the risk by removing many of them.
• Disinfecting is the actual act of killing those germs with chemicals. It generally follows cleaning.
• Sanitizing uses cleaning or disinfecting to lower the number of germs to a safe level which is decided by public health standards or requirements.

For the best possible protection from the flu, you should sanitize surfaces and objects that are touched often every day. Here’s more info on the germiest places at work and how you keep them more germ free.

These surfaces may include:

• Desks
• Doorknobs
• Countertops
• Workstations
• Tools
• Computer keyboards
• Phones
• Faucet handles
• Kitchen areas
• Bathroom areas

Now for some good news: Flu viruses are relatively fragile. That means that standard cleaning and disinfecting is often enough to remove or kill them.³

Additionally, you should encourage your employees to clean and disinfect their own personal workspaces by providing each of them with cleaning supplies.

MedExpress Pro Tip: For a deep dive into keeping your place of business as healthy as possible, check out how to create a tidy workspace.

Adjust Sick Day Policies

You should permit employees to stay home if they become sick with the flu. This will reduce its spread and allow them to get better faster. Those with suspected or confirmed flu who do not have a fever, should stay home from work at least four to five days after symptoms begin. If they do have a fever, employees should remain home until their fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is gone.⁴

Note: This is also critically important because the flu is the most contagious during the first three days of illness.⁴

If an employee becomes sick at work, you should protect the rest of your workforce by sending them home and encouraging them to follow the same stay home schedule as above.

Establish Preventative Actions

If your employees need to come into work, you can still protect your workforce from all getting sick.

One of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of the flu is to avoid getting with approximately 6 feet of others.⁵If someone is sick, they should limit their contact with others so as not to infect them.

You should also provide your employees with educational reminders about covering coughs and sneezes, as well as access to tissues and trash cans.

You can further reduce the spread of the flu by reminding them of the benefits of handwashing for at least thirty seconds with warm water and soap (we all remember how to do that, right?). You should also provide them with access to running water and soap. If that’s not available, you should have hand sanitizer available that is made with at least 60 percent alcohol.

Provide Education

While many recover from the flu within a few weeks, there are some people who are considered at risk of developing severe complications from the flu – like pneumonia – that could result in hospitalization. Inform your employees about those who may be at high risk for serious flu complications, such as:⁶

• Pregnant women
• Children under five years of age
• Adults 65 and over
• Those with a condition such as asthma, chronic lung disease, heart disease or diabetes
• Those with a body mass index [BMI] of 40 or higher
• Those with a weakened immune system due to HIV, AIDS and some cancers

While your employees may not be in these risk groups, there is a chance that their loved ones are. This enables you to warn them of the dangers of the flu and may even encourage them to get a flu shot.

There are also better health habits that can help keep your employees from being run down and having a weakened immune system. This may help protect them from the flu. These habits include:

• Getting at least eight hours of sleep
• Being physically active
• Managing stress
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Eating nutritious food

Encourage Employees to Get Vaccinated

Speaking of flu shots, the CDC encourages everyone six months of age and older to get a flu vaccine every season with rare exceptions. Getting one may reduce flu illnesses, visits to doctor’s offices and missed work due to getting sick. Also, if you do get the flu, it may make the symptoms less severe and reduce your chance of a flu-related hospitalization.⁷

Ideally, you and your employees should get flu shots in September or October before flu season starts.

Now that you know how to protect your workplace and employees from the spread of flu, you can take the necessary steps to make sure your workplace is as healthy and as safe as possible. With a combination of proper cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, as well as preventive measures and flu vaccinations, you'll be doing all you can to keep your team healthy.

If flu symptoms start to make your employees feel under the weather, your local MedExpress is ready to get them back to better. They can either schedule a visit online or just walk in for care.

Originally published October 2023. Updated March 2024. 

References:

1 CDC. Flu season. Last updated September 20, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2023.

2 National Library of Medicine. The economic burden of influenza among adults aged 18 to 64: A systematic literature review. Last updated February 5, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2023.

3 CDC. How To Clean and Disinfect Schools To Help Slow the Spread of Flu. Last updated September 22, 2021. Accessed March 29, 2024.

4 CDC. Preventing the spread of flu in the workplace. Last updated October 25, 2021. Accessed July 31, 2023.

5 CDC. Interim Guidance on Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with Novel Influenza A Viruses and Use of Antiviral Medications for Chemoprophylaxis. Last updated March 25, 2022. Accessed August 10, 2023.

6 CDC. People at Higher Risk of Flu Complications. Last updated September 6, 2022. Accessed July 31, 2023.

7 CDC. Flu Resources for Businesses. Last updated June 11, 2021. Accessed August 1, 2023.