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Summer is coming to an end, which means flu season is just around the corner. It’s hard for employees to work their best when they’re not feeling their best. And with Canada still, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, workplaces are more cautious than ever about keeping employees safe and healthy. Here are some tips from our HR experts at Nova Staffing on how you can protect your workplace and staff from flu and cold season.
Encourage Employees to Pay Attention to Their Health
It’s always crucial for workers to focus on their health, but it can be easy to forget about the more common diseases like the flu and colds when facing down a global pandemic. Encourage employees to get a seasonal flu vaccine, promote practices like handwashing, and allow them to take sick days if needed.
Evaluate Sick Leave Policies
One big thing companies had to rethink during COVID-19 are their sick-leave policies. At Nova Staffing, this is one of the top questions we get asked about when hiring new people. Employees want to make sure they’ll be protected if they must take time off due to illness, especially since it’s highly discouraged to come into workplaces with fevers and coughs, even if it’s not COVID-19. Employers should be flexible when it comes to employees and sickness. Allow work from home and provide extra sick days if possible.
Emphasize Cleaning
The good news about the pandemic is that workplaces have been focusing on cleanliness and sanitization. The increased cleaning means that employees are less likely to get sick from common illnesses like the flu as well as COVID-19. Employers may want to consider upping this even more, or at least keep it up even as health regulations slacken, to ensure workers are safe during flu and cold season.
Educate on Health Practices
Now is a good time to send out an email or post signs re-educating workers on health practices. Post reminders in the bathroom about washing hands and in eating spaces about covering one’s mouth and nose. You can also remind employees of policies about coming in when they have a fever or other flu-like symptoms.
Is your company looking to hire new staff, or do you need more employment tips? Contact Nova Staffing today! Our team of hiring experts has over 200 years of combined industry experience and is ready to help.