How to Keep the Flu From Breaking Out in Your Plant

By the amount of coughing and wheezing heard in the checkout line, days your kids missed from school, and crusty mucus caked on your sleeve, you could already probably tell this is a banner year for the influenza virus. CDC metrics back this anecdotal evidence, with the current number of hospitalizations stemming from the flu matching the same period of the 2014-2015 winter.

“This year’s flu season is on pace to be similar, if not worse,” says Andrew Challenger, Vice President of global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.“Employers should prepare to see a number of absences in the coming weeks.”

And the flu, which thrives in cold, dry environments, is expected to hang around for three more months.

The millions of sick days taken means nationwide production numbers will also take a hit. Using the average hourly wage ($26.63) and expecting four missed shifts per infected worker, Challenger’s job consultant firm calculates employers could lose up to $9.4 billion.

Luckily, these Koosh-ball looking microbes can be outsmarted, or at least suppressed, with some pretty easy, inexpensive tactics.

1. Vaccinate

The CDC says after a flu vaccination it takes about two week for your body to develop anti-bodies. With flu season sometimes lasting until May, anytime during the winter is the best time to get one. And while the shot is not a guarantee you won’t get the flu, last year it did work 48% of the time, the CDC reports.

2. Stay Home

This really couldn’t be any easier to do. Instead of getting in your car and driving to your job, don’t.

“While sick workers may think they are doing the right thing by ‘toughing it out’ and coming into work when they feel ill, they are only likely to spread their illness, potentially further interrupting optimum business operations,” Challenger says. “Whether it is motivated by job security or a desire to continue making a contribution in an overburdened workplace, presenteeism, as it has come to be called, should be strongly discouraged by employers.”

And even when you start feeling better, remember the virus remains contagious for seven days.

Read more at EHSToday.com