Flu season survival guide

Tips for minimizing the spread of flu at workplaces, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas and consulting firm Impactivo:

❚ Create more shifts to reduce the number of people working at one time.

❚ Limit in-person meetings. Instead hold meetings by conference call or videoconferencing.

❚ Promote vaccination. A flu vaccine protects against common virus strains, and while it may not cover all of them, it can reduce flu illness and missed work.

❚ Expand telecommuting to keep vulnerable workers off public transportation and out of the office.

❚ Encourage sick workers to stay home without fear of losing their jobs.

❚ Adopt flexible leave policies to let parents care for a sick child.

❚ Encourage employees to wash their hands frequently, avoid handshakes and take other precautions such as wearing masks in busy areas.

❚ Tell sick employees not to come back to work until at least 24 hours after their fever has subsided (without fever-reducing medicine).

❚ Provide no-touch trash cans and hand sanitizer.