Employers receive federal guidance on influenza threat

By: David LaHoda August 25th, 2009

If your boss tended to treat you like Ferris Bueller when you called in sick in the past, times might be changing, at least during the upcoming flu season.

The puritan work ethic—toughing it out and reporting to work no matter how sick you are—should to take it on the chin this flu season to be replaced by commonsense workplace policies that limit the spread of seasonal and H1N1 influenza, says Department of Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.

Locke and fellow secretaries of Homeland Security, Labor, and Health and Human Services introduced Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to the 2009 – 2010 Influenza Season and an employer communication toolkit on August 19.

The guidance provides recommendations, as opposed to setting mandatory requirements, for businesses to do its part in protecting workers’ health while limiting the negative impact that the economy will face from regular flu or an outbreak of the H1N1.

Employers can set the right tone by letting their employees know that they should not come to work with flu-like symptoms. Also, workers may be asked to go home, in accordance with CDC recommendations, if they develop flu symptom during the workday.

Locke emphasized that adapting sick leave policies that are flexible and non-punitive, increasing the focus on hand-hygiene, supporting worker vaccinations, and staying in touch with local and state health departments are key steps to developing a commonsense and responsible approach to the threat of influenza in the workplace.

Recommendations

If the severity of influenza H1N1 outbreak is similar to that of the spring 2009, the guidance recommends employers take the following measures:

Encourage sick workers to stay home and send home workers with developing flu-like symptoms. It’s simple; the best way to reduce the spread of flu is to keep sick people away form well people. “Regardless of the size of the business or the function or services that you provide, all employers should plan now to allow and encourage sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs,” urges the guidelines.

Remind workers to cover coughs and sneezes. Enhance cough etiquette by providing tissues and no touch disposal receptacles and cough/sneeze etiquette reminders.

Improve hand hygiene by encouraging workers to wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner. Place posters in the worksite that encourage hand hygiene.

Pay attention to cleanliness in the workplace by frequently cleaning all commonly touched surfaces such as workstations, countertops, and doorknobs.

Encourage employees to get vaccinated for seasonal flu and H1N1 when it becomes available in accordance with CDC priority guidelines

Take measures to protect employees who are at higher risk for complications of influenza, this includes pregnant women; children under 5 years of age; adults and children who have chronic lung disease (such as asthma), heart disease, diabetes, diseases that suppress the immune system and other chronic medical conditions; and those who are 65 years or older.

Prepare for more employee absences due to illness in employees and family members, and plan ways for essential business functions to continue by cross-training for essential functions and adapting different practices (e.g. identify alternative suppliers, prioritize customers, or temporarily suspend some of your operations if needed).

Advise employees before traveling to check for symptoms and remind them that becoming ill while traveling increases the risk of complications.

Prepare for the possibility of school dismissal or temporary closure of child care programs by ensuring your leave policies are flexible and non-punitive.

Work with state and local public health departments. The intensity of influenza outbreaks will vary according to geographic location so check with local public health officials for guidance specific to your community.

If influenza H1N1 outbreak is more severe than that of the spring 2009 outbreak, the guidance recommends employers take the following measures:

Consider actively screening employees when reporting to work. All employees should be asked about symptoms consistent with an influenza illness. Recommend that people stay home at least 7 days whether or not antiviral medications are used. Do not require a doctor’s note for workers who are ill with influenza.

Consider alternative work environments for employees at higher risk for complications of influenza. Employees with an underlying chronic medical condition or who are pregnant should consider calling their healthcare provider for advice on reducing the risk of exposure to influenza. Employers may want to evaluate workplace environment and suggest options such as telecommuting.

Consider increasing social distancing in the workplace by avoiding crowded work settings, canceling business-related face-to-face meetings, spacing workers farther apart, increasing use of teleworking, and using staggered shifts to allow fewer workers to be in the workplace at the same time.

Consider canceling non-essential business travel and advising employees about possible disruptions while traveling overseas.

Prepare for prolonged closure of schools and child care programs by make sure your leave policies are flexible and non-punitive and implement flexible workplace policies like teleworking and staggered shifts.

Given these recommendations, do you think your employer is prepared to partner with government efforts to protect you and your co-workers from influenza exposure? Let us know in the comment section below.

Comments(4) Featured, Pandemic Influenza

Comments

By Kimberly McHatton on August 25th, 2009 at 8:22 am

What are the work recommendations for healhtcare employees who has a child at home that has been diagnoses with H1N1? I would appriciatation any suggestions. Thanks

By David LaHoda on August 25th, 2009 at 9:03 am

Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic does not specifically address your question but it does recommend “Prophylaxis for the duration of community outbreaks for healthcare workers who have direct high-risk exposures to pandemic influenza patients and for front-line emergency services (e.g., law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel).”

By Kimberly McHatton on August 25th, 2009 at 10:30 am

From reviewing the article it sounds like it would be beneficial for parents or spouces to receive post exposure prophylaxis.. Thanks!

By Kathy Thompson on September 15th, 2009 at 3:50 pm

Are you kidding me? I work for a hospital. We are punished anytime we have an absence from work. We are only permitted two seperate instances per year before we are “written up” and are not allowed to participate in our leadership programs. There is NO WAY you will protect the public health if healthcare workers themselves have no choice but to come to work infected.