Being well: How to keep your staff healthy during cold and flu season
It happens in every workplace - that super dedicated employee comes into the office with a runny nose, bad cough, and it’s apparent to everyone else they should be resting at home. Unfortunately, encouraging staff to stay home when sick is easier said than done. Workplaces, especially offices with open concept layouts and shared workspaces should have strategies in place to support their staff in staying healthy while maintaining productivity. Sending a sick employee home for the day is often a short-term solution. In reality, the work doesn’t go away, some meetings are difficult to move, and hard deadlines can’t always be negotiated. How do workplaces balance getting the work done, supporting the sick employee, while keeping the rest of the team healthy?
According to Statistics Canada, full-time employees in Canada lost an average of 8.5 days each in 2019 due to illness or disability. While rare, sometimes workplaces are faced with the added challenge of keeping staff healthy during a global health emergency. Currently, the Novel Coronavirus is a concern and many government agencies have communicated strategies to the public on prevention. Being sick with the cold or flu during this time can be especially challenging, not to mention stressful. Workplaces should take added measures to reduce the spread of germs and ensure staff feel they are coming to work in a safe and healthy environment.
Here are some tips on how to keep your staff healthy during cold and flu season:
1. Clean workstations:
Simple but effective. Disinfecting an office desk, mouse, keyboard, door handle, and phone should be encouraged on a weekly basis. Consider purchasing hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes for your staff and place them around the office for ease. In shared workspaces, develop etiquette guidelines and communicate them to staff.
2. Give staff time off work to get the flu shot:
Each year, flu vaccines are available and encouraged to reduce the spread of the flu. Post information on flu shot clinics near the office and give staff time off work to get vaccinated. You may also want to arrange for an onsite flu shot clinic for added convenience.
3. Sick time policy:
Make sure you have a clear sick time policy in place which outlines the appropriate steps in reporting illnesses and ensure it’s available to staff. It's important to include information about how much notice they are expected to provide, how they should communicate with you, and if a doctor’s note is required. If staff are continuing to report into work when they should be at home recharging, you may have to assess your current policies and whether your workplace provides sufficient paid sick time off to support a healthy environment.
4. Communicate and educate your staff:
Put up reminders around sinks on proper hand washing techniques and remind staff that germs can be spread through common surfaces. In a situation where you are dealing with a global public health emergency, let your staff know what measures you have taken to ensure they continue to work in a safe environment. You should also anticipate rumours and misinformation so take the time to get accurate and timely facts about infections to share with staff if they are interested in learning more. Communicate with everyone and encourage them to share their concerns. If staff are hesitant to share then consider confidential ways to gather feedback such as an employee survey.
5. Follow the leader
To the leaders out there who stroll into the office when sick - you’re not sending the right message. Without even realizing it, you are setting the expectation that being sick should not hold you back from the office and your staff hear you loud and clear. As a leader, you set the culture so it’s important to make sure you take time to rest and recharge. As simple as it may sound, communicating to staff that it’s okay to stay home when sick is an important example they need to both see and hear from their leaders.
6. Update current practices
Get your employees to share their thoughts on current practices and what type of support they need when feeling under the weather. Are staff concerned about taking public transportation or having in-person meetings? Try to encourage video calls or work from home options to support your people in getting better and reducing the spread of germs. Remember when reviewing current practices, it's important to develop how these measures will be implemented. If you’re considering a work from home solution, for instance, clearly communicate with staff the expectations to ensure its success.
7. Provide workplace perks
Have you thought about bringing a yoga instructor to host 30 minute sessions, or offering herbal teas to strengthen immune systems? Providing health and wellness perks throughout the year can help create a healthier workforce and sends the message that the health and well-being of staff is something the organization prioritizes.
Having sick employees can have a real impact on business efficiency and productivity. Show staff you care about their health through offering paid sick time, education and resources, and you can make a real impact on keeping your workforce healthy and productive.
Interested in implementing health and safety best practices for your workplace, or need to develop a sick time policy? Connect with us via hello@mondaymorning.ca
This information is provided for general informational purposes only, and should not be considered as offering individualized medical advice.
About us: At Monday Morning, we are a team of HR consultants in the Toronto area supporting businesses with their HR needs. With over 15 years of experience, we provide expert HR advice, build people and culture programs for some of the best workplaces, and develop customized solutions to meet your needs. We take the worry out of HR so you can focus on your business
