CCH Outlines 10 Steps to Keeping the Workplace Healthy in the Height of ...(surveyed now sponsor flu-shot programs f...),Health

percent in 2005.

2. Tap your employee assistance program (EAP) and healthcare support

services: Determine if they offer a hotline or web site your

employees can use to access FAQs and get guidance and information

about healthcare issues.

3. Establish and communicate guidelines: Help employees understand under

what conditions they should stay home, and when it's safe to return

to work. For example, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC) estimates that individuals who get the flu may be able to

infect others from the day before their symptoms develop, to five

days after becoming sick.

4. Provide tips on how to avoid spreading germs: A good source is the

CDC web site:

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/stopgerms.htm#GoodHealthHabits. Use

posters or offer the information on your corporate intranet.

5. Ensure absence control policies are not counterproductive: Programs

such as disciplinary action need to be assessed to ensure they don't

unnecessarily pressure sick employees to report for work.

6. Foster a healthy environment: Ensure managers are fostering an

environment in which ill employees feel comfortable asking to leave

the workplace or, better yet, not report to work in the first place.

7. Set a good example: Managers should be urged not to come in sick as

employees may then see the message to "stay at home" as lip service.

8. Work with employees and your facilities group to keep common areas

clean: Make sure these areas are cleaned regularly; this may even

include cleaning conference rooms between meetings.

9. Recognize helpful employ
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