Employers play a vital role in preventing the spread of the H1N1 virus (and really any winter viruses) and Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to bolster the workplace against the threat of flu this winter.
“Any places where a lot of people congregate, such as the workplace, become hot spots for spreading the flu virus,” says Rosalind Scott, BBB Executive Director. “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.”
BBB offers the following advice to business owners on how to prepare for the upcoming flu season and a potential H1N1 flu outbreak:
Encourage employees who are feeling sick to stay home. Employees who have flu-like symptoms should 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. Employers 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.
Remind employees of habits for good hygiene. Good hygiene will greatly help prevent the spread of germs and viruses throughout the office. Employers may wish 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 trashcans, and tissues. You may wish to encourage your 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 of businesses that don’t have a continuation of operations plan, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
A business continuation plan would help 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 can continue operating by training other employees to step in if key staff should become ill.
For more advice on preparing your business for the flu season, visit
www.fightflu.ca.
For additional advice from BBB on managing a business, visit
vi.bbb.org.