’Tis the season for the sniffles.
Every year, about 1.5 million workdays are lost in Canada due to the flu, leading to $1 billion in healthcare and lost productivity costs, according to the Canadian Healthcare Influenza Immunization Network. Health experts agree that the best way to protect employees is to offer access to vaccines.
“Once one person gets it, then it can spread—so if you provide vaccination for your staff, 70% to 90% of flu cases can be averted,” says Omar Alasaly, a Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacy owner in Victoria. Employers can offer the vaccine through either an in-house clinic or a pharmacy.
The pharmacy route allows employees to book shots on their own time, which requires little to no administrative work for the employer. Setting up an on-site flu clinic comes at a cost, experts explain—many providers require a time slot of at least four hours and charge travel, administrative and setup costs.
However, in-house clinics do have advantages, says Cathy Weaver, vice-president of HR with Great-West Life, such as convenience and increased staff participation rates. “We believe the value gained for the company and the community outweighs the cost of administration, vaccines and supplies, and the cost of hiring a third-party health service to run the clinic,” she adds.
Apart from offering the flu shot, Alasaly says employers should encourage good hygiene (through frequent handwashing), being active, drinking plenty of water—and having employees stay at home if they get sick.
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