By: Shawna Wright

While for most, autumn evokes visions of pumpkins and apple cider, as an HR professional, your mind probably races to the dismal realities of flu-season and the disastrous impact it can have on a company.

USA Today recently told of a telecommunications company forced to shut down a busy Kansas call-center when roughly one third of its employees developed flu symptoms.

In September, The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) released the results of a national survey which found that only one in three employers believe they could sustain business without “severe operational problems” if half of their workforce was out for two weeks. Grim!

HR professionals face the daunting task of keeping a company afloat regardless of the sick-roster.  Here are a few tips to keep your office’s attendance numbers healthy during flu season:

• Consider implementing telecommuting and using video conferencing.  This means parents who are home with sick children, or employees recuperating from an illness won’t miss a beat, minimizing the amount of catch-up they will have upon their return, which also minimizes the burden put on co-workers.  
• Forgo large conferences to minimize physical contact during outbreaks of flu.  When possible, opt for electronic communication instead.  
• Take advantage of a flu-shot program for your company. 65% of organizations already sponsor these programs for their employees.
• Keep absence-control policies lenient!  Employees shouldn’t have to fear disciplinary action for missing work when they are ill.  This kind of rigidity can lead to “presenteeism”, or the condition of being physically present at work, but underproductive. 1.5 work hours are lost weekly to health issues in the office.
• Have a plan! If your company is juggling multiple time-sensitive projects, be sure to have a staffing contingency plan, which could mean using a temporary agency to prevent a break in workflow.
• Take proactive measures to minimize contact.  Send sick personnel home immediately, and routinely clean common areas.  Also be sure your staff has ample antibacterial hand wash and tissues.

To learn more about workplace safety and health issues, please visit: www.cdc.gov/workplace.