From the DRJournal.com

With the winter months approaching, it is time to prepare for the cold and flu season. It is important to review your plans to minimize disruptions to operations should a major flu outbreak occur.
Influenza is highly contagious and is often spread by coughs, sneezes and hand contact. It can spread rapidly in enclosed spaces such as offices or conference rooms. Each year, more than 100,000 people in the United States are hospitalized and about 36,000 die from the flu and its complications.
Before the flu season arrives, make sure your employees are aware of your company’s policies and preparations. With a little effort, the workplace can remain efficient throughout the winter months.

A few points to consider include:

• Assess your critical business functions and determine whether they can be performed offsite or by backup personnel.
• Provide adequate cross training for employees. Make sure more than one employee can perform critical tasks

• Promote awareness of proper hygiene protocols. Have adequate sanitizer, soap, tissue and other supplies on hand for each employee.

• Create telecommuting plans to allow employees to work from home if necessary.

• Examine your absentee policy to ensure sick employees will be able to stay home, rather than coming to the office to potentially spread germs.

• Establish communication plans. Ensure that all contact information for employees is current. In addition, update vendor and supplier contacts. 

These tips can be used to keep your employees and business safe during the upcoming flu season. In addition, they can serve as a reminder to review your Pandemic plans. It is important to be prepared for any type of flu outbreak, mild or severe.

To find more information on preparing for the flu or a Pandemic, visit http://www.drj.com/special/avian/