For those who have yet to get a flu shot, there still is time and reason to do so, says Tarchini. Flu season peaks in January and February and runs through April.
Now that she’s feeling healthy after two bouts of the flu, Papale is taking precautions by wiping down her work area and telephone. She hopes others in her office will do the same, that feverish co-workers stay home and that the flu virus is finally behind her — at least for 2014.
EMPLOYER TIPS:
Workplace experts at Challenger Gray & Christmas offer ideas for employers combating the flu season:
—Increase the number of shifts. This will reduce the number of people working in the office at one time.
—Limit meetings. If there is no need to gather large groups of workers in a confined space, don’t do it. Conduct meetings via conference calls. Bigger companies may want to consider video-conferencing.
—Expand telecommuting. Determine who can work from home or other locations. This will keep people off of public transportation and out of the office.
—Allow sick workers to stay home without fear losing their jobs.
—Institute flexible leave policies to allow parents to care for an ill child or one who is home due to school closures.
—Provide no-touch trash cans and hand sanitizer.
—Encourage employees to wash their hands frequently, use antibacterial wipes to keep work areas clean, avoid handshaking and take other hygienic precautions such as wearing masks in heavily populated work areas.
—Assign someone to the post of flu czar or workplace illness coordinator to monitor absenteeism rates, coordinate sick leave and inform employees of company measures to prevent and/or respond to outbreak.
Cindy Krischer Goodman is CEO of BalanceGal LLC, a provider of news and advice on how to balance work and life.
©2014 The Miami Herald
Distributed by MCT Information Services
