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  • Is Your Organization Worried about The Wrong Virus?

    Fever? Headache? Muscle aches? Many Canadians feel these symptoms in the coming months. This illness can’t be treated with antibiotics, will usually affect people for a week or more and will cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars. Many will die. If you’ve been paying attention to recent, terrifying headlines, you may assume the illness is the Ebola virus. Instead, the above description refers to seasonal flu. That’s one reason why doctors say this year it’s especially important for your employees not to get caught up in Ebola hysteria and forget to get their flu shots.

    The Impact of Flu on your organization

    Organizations will lose approximately 111 million workdays annually due to the flu, equalling $7 billion per year in sick days and lost productivity. This year is different for two reasons: First is the Ebola epidemic in West Africa that spread into the United States. The second is the late summer outbreak of enterovirus D68, a respiratory illness that has sickened more than 1,100 people in 46 states since August, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The prospect of facing all three illnesses in a single season has led the CDC to start a public education campaign to help people understand the risks and to remind people to get their annual flu vaccine.

    Proactive Steps For Employers To Take

    Organizations can use this time of worry, confusion, and fear over the Ebola virus to educate their employees, help them identify the true risks and show them that you are invested in their well-being by hosting a flu clinic.

    “The important thing is to try and quell employee fear and panic and encourage employees to get a flu shot”  advices Dr. Craig Karpilow, Workplace Medical Corp.’s Occupation Health Director.

    On site flu clinics are a great choice for organizations big and small because:

    • On-site flu clinics are a convenient, quick and affordable way to get all your employees immunized at one time, in one place, without having them leave the work site or lose worker productivity.
    • On-site flu clinics ensure your employees are vaccinated and lessen the risk of spreading the virus to family and other high-risk groups.
    • On-site flu clinics ensure that your employees are protected if exposed to the virus from outside sources.
    • Many employees intend to get to the clinic and get their flu shot, but life gets in the way and they just never get around to it. Others know they should get to the clinic, but the thought of sitting in a packed waiting room is not appealing and they decide to wait until they’re not so busy – a time that never comes.
    • On-site clinics could mean fewer Ebola false alarms.
    • On-site flu clinic show your employees you are invested in their and their family’s health and well-being.

    Vaccinated employees experience:

    • 13 – 44% fewer doctor visits;
    • 18 – 45% fewer lost work days;
    • 18 – 28% fewer days with reduced productivity

    In addition to receiving the vaccine, public health officials urge people to practice the “3 Cs:” cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or sleeve, contain germs by staying home when sick and clean hands often to stop the spread of flu germs.

    The Difference between Ebola and The Flu

    Statistically, seasonal flu viruses pose a much greater public health threat than the scary and highly covered, but relatively contained, Ebola. And unlike Ebola, a vaccine is widely available to protect people from seasonal flu viruses. Many symptoms of the flu are similar to the Ebola virus. However, there are big differences, too. Influenza causes cough, sore throat and runny nose, while Ebola does not. Ebola is far different from influenza, or “flu,” virus, in that the flu virus is transmissible through airborne droplets and is much more contagious, and therefore much more worrisome than Ebola, which can only be spread through bodily fluids. In the coming months, almost none of us will catch the Ebola virus. However, unlike Ebola, flu contributes to thousands of North American deaths each year and many more hospitalizations. And unlike Ebola, there’s a vaccine to protect against the flu, recommended annually for adults, teens, and children starting at 6 months of age. Protect your employees, their families, your community and your organization by making sure your employees are vaccinated this flu season.

    Jon Burtenshaw

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  • How To Prepare Your Workplace For The Ebola Threat

    The Ebola virus is in the news and, if your workplace is like ours, your employees may be wondering what your company is doing about it. This would be a good time to review your disaster recovery plans and update it for medical disasters if it was not done during the SARS scare. Workplace Medical Corp.’s Medical Director, Dr. Craig Karpilow, advises companies to always be prepared when medical outbreaks occur, as it is the employers’ overall responsibility to ensure that all practicable preventive and protective measures are taken to minimize occupational risks.

    “Employers should consider the wide range of decisions that may arise, including: restricting international travel; medical inquiries and potential quarantines for employees who have traveled; leave from work; and educating management and employees,” says Karpilow.

    Four Steps to Take to Prepare

    One: Consider Evacuating Non-Essential Employees

    If you have employees in the West Africa region, it is a good idea to evaluate the need for them to work in that area. If there are any employees who could do their jobs in countries not currently at risk, it’s best to temporarily relocate them to ensure their safety

    Two: Put a Hold on Any Immediate Future Travel

    Similar to evacuating employees is refraining from sending more employees to West Africa. In Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a travel advisory asking that only essential travelers enter the region. If you have scheduled employees for relocation or temporary business travel to the region, and that travel is not absolutely vital, it is wise to put a temporary halt to the moves.

    Three: Put procedures in place in order to ensure that business proceeds as usual

    Review employee leave policies, giving attention to flexible work solutions including staggered hours and telecommuting. Employ cross training so employees can help fill in and complete tasks in case of a co-worker falling ill. Establish points of contact for reporting absences. There should also be backups for these contact points. Make sure contacts know where to find answers with regard to the firm’s health plan.

    Four: Have an Emergency Plan in Place

    A good emergency plan for Ebola will include the following, non-exhaustive, parts:

    •  A way to recognize and report symptoms;
    • A method to isolate an employee who demonstrates symptoms;
    • The sterilization methods and protective equipment used to prevent the virus from spreading;
    • How workers with symptoms will get proper medical care; and
    • How any necessary information will be communicated to employees

    While the spread of any virus is a scary thing, employees knowing that their employer is taking precautions, has a plan in place and has their health and best interests in mind can provide employees with great confidence and reassurance.

    Jon Burtenshaw

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