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What to Do about Annual Flu
Practical Law Legal Update 4-544-5594 (Approx. 3 pages)
What to Do about Annual Flu
by Practical Law Labor & Employment
| Published on 08 Oct 2013 • USA (National/Federal) |
Resources to help employers prepare for influenza (flu) season and potential pandemic outbreaks.
October signals the beginning of the annual influenza (flu) season, which typically lasts a few months. An outbreak of the flu can lead to widespread absenteeism and can impact an employer's bottom line. To minimize the potential impact, employers should prepare for seasonal flu and potential pandemic outbreaks by taking certain steps.
All employers can protect employees from workplace exposure by implementing basic precautions at the workplace, for example:
- Providing alcohol-based hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes for employee use.
- Encouraging employees to stay home when they are sick without fear of being penalized.
- Ensuring managers set a good example by staying home when they are sick.
In addition, every employer should consider:
- Offering voluntary vaccines at the workplace.
- Developing a pandemic preparedness plan that assesses the employer's vulnerability in the event of a pandemic.
- Reviewing its policies and procedures to ensure the employer:
- has procedures in place for sending home employees who become ill with pandemic influenza-like symptoms; and
- complies with the Occupational Safety and Health Act recordkeeping requirements by setting out the procedures for employees to report workplace illness.
For more best practices, see Practical Law's Practice Note, Pandemic Flu Preparation and Response and Preparing for Seasonal Influenza (Flu) and Potential Pandemic Outbreaks: Best Practices Checklist.