The holiday season is upon us, and that means that flu season is coming around, too. How do you keep your workplace free of these tough winter illnesses?

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration or OSHA has provided guidelines for both medical and non-medical workers. These tips will help companies to keep absenteeism lower and productivity higher by making sure that they minimize people’s exposure to illnesses that end up causing the most sick days throughout the winter season.

Flu Shots

Non-medical companies may not be able to mandate flu shots for employees, but they can make them more attractive. This might mean providing an in-house clinic or making transportation easier for people. It may mean giving people time off to get the shots. However business leaders decide to do it, higher vaccination rates will lead to lower rates of infection.

Taking Time Off

The next point may be counterintuitive in terms of productivity, but in reality, it’s going to save work hours. The idea is that one person who has the flu should stay home until they’re not contagious anymore. Otherwise, they will come in and incubate the illness in the office, and it will spread to more people. Because many people have a strong work ethic and a lack of awareness toward the seriousness of flu contagion, it may require leadership to take a proactive approach and tell people to stay home if they have the flu.

Handwashing

Handwashing is another very effective method to really reduce the rates of flu infection. OSHA recommends that workers wash hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based rub. The agency also recommends a no-touch wastebasket to avoid spreading germs through the use of paper towels or hand cleaners.

Wiping Down Hardware

This next recommendation isn’t always practical, but even a daily regimen can improve flu outcomes. It may be practical to pay office cleaners to wipe down phones, keyboards and other workstation elements at the end of each day or shift, or to ask employees to carry some of this burden themselves, again, to cut down on flu contagion.

These practical precautions can help companies and employees alike. People don’t want to get the flu, and participating in these kinds of workplace recommendations can keep workers healthier from November to March. Along with these specific recommendation, OSHA also recommends more general practices for health outcomes. These include the use of a specific company wellness program that can both cut down on insurance costs and keep people healthier all year. Other practical tactics like keeping healthy choices in break room areas can also have a positive effect. At the best companies, leadership is always looking at key ways to improve general health outcomes for employees, with well-planned initiatives for the modern office.

For more, keep an eye on the Full Steam Staffing blog as we detail the kinds of situations in which we help client companies to thrive. We provide excellent staffing services in California, helping many local firms to handle the challenges of growth and expansion.