Employers Need to Prepare for Flu Outbreak Now
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iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — No one’s telling Americans not to take Ebola seriously. However, millions can start preparing now for another contagious disease: the flu.
John Challenger, CEO of the outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, says that if this year’s flu season is anything like last year’s, it will be tremendous drain on the economy.
Overall, a seasonal flu outbreak costs the nation’s economy $10.4 billion in direct costs for hospitalization and outpatient visits, not to mention another $7 billion dollars annually in lost productivity at work.
Obviously, Americans at risk of catching the flu, such as the young and those over 50, can reduce the risk of contracting the flu by getting vaccinated.
Challenger also advises employers to start taking steps to stop the flu from spreading.
For instance, he recommends “encouraging employees to wash their hands, offering free or low-cost flu vaccination shots, and routinely washing and disinfecting work surfaces.”
Perhaps even more important than all that, managers and supervisors should make it a point to tell workers early on that if they’re sick, stay home.
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