Workplace Health in Winter: A Practical Guide for Employers

Whether your employees work in the comfort of an office or outside on a construction site, their health is as much your responsibility as it is theirs. In fact, under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is your responsibility to protect the health, safety, and welfare of all your employees. This is especially true during the winter months when flu and other respiratory illnesses are most prevalent. To ensure you keep your employees as healthy as possible, you need to stay proactive in order to minimise the risk of absenteeism due to illness and maintain productivity.

Winter Flu and Respiratory Care

During the colder winter months, your main objective should be to minimise the spread of viruses in the workplace. To achieve this, you can focus on the following:

• Vaccinate: Administering flu vaccinations is among the most effective preventive strategies for protecting your employees’ health. You should, therefore, encourage all employees to get vaccinated. One approach is to arrange for a clinic to visit your workplace and provide on-site flu vaccinations to employees. Alternatively, you can purchase flu vouchers. Your employees can then use these vouchers to get vaccinated at their nearest pharmacy at a time most convenient for them.
• Symptomatic Staff: When it comes to symptomatic staff, you need to be flexible. If an employee shows flu-like symptoms while at work, you should send them home until at least 24 hours after their fever is gone. This is not just in the interest of the unwell individual, but also to protect the other employees from wider transmission.
• Hygiene: The importance of hygiene can never be emphasised enough. Before winter arrives, step up your hygiene protocols by ensuring thorough cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and shared equipment. You should also provide employees with hand sanitisers and encourage them to wash their hands frequently.
• Ventilation: Offices can be a real breeding ground for viruses, especially if there isn’t enough airflow. Ensure your office stays well-ventilated to reduce the risk of airborne virus particles getting trapped inside.
• Temperature control: Viruses thrive in cold, dry weather.  To avoid creating the ideal environment for viruses, try to maintain a comfortable temperature of 22-24˚C and use humidifiers to increase the humidity to a level of 40-60%. If your employees work outdoors, provide them with a heated mobile rest facility and extra break times, allowing them to warm up while enjoying a hot beverage.
• Remote working: Again, flexibility on your part is important. If your business can stay fully operational while employees work remotely, do so. By allowing your employees to work from home, you will reduce the risk of exposure by reducing face-to-face interactions with employees who may be symptomatic.
• Presenteeism: Reports show that presenteeism (working while ill) costs UK businesses billions each year. With this in mind, it will be in everyone’s best interest to encourage your employees to take sick leave, when necessary, instead of coming to work when they feel unwell.

Is Your Business Winter-Ready?

The winter, while beautiful in its own way, is a season of contrasts. Some find joy in cosy indoor activities and festive events, while others dread the shorter daylight hours and damp, grey weather conditions. Whichever side you’re on, the main question you should ask is if your business is ready for the winter months and the seasonal flu that comes with it. If the answer is no, contact our team at FluClinic2You and let us help you reduce the risk of flu spreading in the workplace. Our specialist team of pharmacists and nurses are standing by to help ensure your staff stay protected in a quick, simple and efficient way this flu season.