It comes every year, and yet everyone seems to be surprised when it’s upon us. Yes, we are fully entrenched in cold and flu season. Sick employees are a reality for just about every business, but they don’t have to sap your productivity.
Avoid productivity lapses during cold and flu season 
Of course, the health and well being of your employees is most important, but running a business still requires productivity. Here are critical steps to prevent flu season from negatively affecting your productivity this year:
- Be a “model” sick employee. We all catch a cold from time to time, but coming into work sick just about guarantees your sniffles will spread like wildfire among employees. You don’t want sick employees coming to work and spreading germs, so be a model sick employee (and leader) – stay home when you’re ill. If you come to work sick, you’re sending a message to your employees — whether you intend to your not — that they should come to work sick. Thus, preparing the office for a rampant spread of germs. So do yourself (no one is at their best while sick, and you should get some rest anyway) and your staff a favor and set the example – stay home from work when you’re sick.
- Plan for fewer staff – then do something about it. It bears repeating – getting sick is pretty inevitable this time of year. So plan ahead for some increased absences. This small step will ensure you avoid unreal expectations or productivity goals during the season. This can also help with employee morale – if your goals are astronomical and you have a rash of sick days that mean your team falls short, no one will feel good about it (and some people might even still be sick – yuck!). Set realistic goals that expect people to miss work for sick days. And to meet your goals despite the obstacle of sick days, augment your staff with temporary help by calling a staffing firm (like Helpmates). We can provide critical staff to help you meet your goals throughout this crazy season.
- Consider investing in updated technology. Surfaces can foster germs for days (weeks, in some cases). And in places like restrooms or kitchens, many employees are frequently touching things like handles and faucets. Hands-free options are available for frequently contaminated surfaces like sinks, toilets, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers and hand dryers.
- Provide germ-reducing products. In addition to updated appliances, using disinfectant spray (like Lysol) on commonly used devices like printers or copy machines can also be a big help. Another low-cost investment that can reduce sick days is a simple one – purchase hand sanitizer and distribute to your employees, place in restrooms, meeting rooms and other areas where people both congregate and frequently touch surfaces.
The cold and flu season can make you feel pretty miserable for a few days, but taking these few steps can make a big impact on your productivity. And if you need temporary help to keep your office humming, give us a call.
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