HR Insights for Professionals
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Contagious illnesses in the workplace can harm productivity and quickly spread among staff. Knowing what the risks are and having policies in place to reduce the spread can improve company efficiency.
4 December 2019
When there are several people working in one place day in and day out, it's easy for germs to spread. This means that illness can affect a large proportion of your workforce very quickly, which can harm productivity.
5% to 20% of the US population ends up catching the flu at some point throughout the year, while other illnesses like the common cold and stomach flu are also common. While an illness may only be affecting one employee to begin with, this can soon lead to several members of staff becoming sick.
Not only will this result in a lower standard of work being completed - as well as less getting done - it also increases the risk that others will come into contact with the contagion.
The impact of absenteeism during flu season
Every year, flu season brings an increase in the spread of seasonal influenza viruses, most commonly in the fall and winter months. In the United States, for example, flu activity normally peaks between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The inevitable consequence of this seasonal increase in flu cases for businesses is a higher risk of absenteeism. Research by the CDC revealed that during the 2017-18 flu season in the US, there was a significant increase in the number of people taking time off work.
